Mazu Rock

Mazu Rock

Mazu Rock is located within Honghu Township, about 3 kilometers northwest of Xianshui Rock in Longhu Mountain, and is an important part of the Longhu Mountain scenic area. Initially named Lima Rock due to the horse-like shape of the rocks at its summit, it was later renamed Mazu Rock after the eminent Tang Dynasty monk Mazu Daoyi preached Buddhist scriptures here.

Mazu Rock is shrouded in a layer of mystery, exuding a magical and magnificent beauty. The Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake praised Mazu Rock as “serene and profoundly secluded.” The area is surrounded by mountains for miles, with steep cliffs on all sides, numerous uniquely shaped caves, and two facing peaks forming a “U” shape. Looking down from above reveals a drop of dozens of meters, while looking up makes it seem to touch the sky. Year-round waterfalls and springs flow continuously. Upon entering the mountain, there stands an upright massive rock known as “Bamen Stone,” whose form is both solemn and whimsical—each angle offers a different impression, making it truly remarkable. When the national hero Wen Tianxiang of the late Song Dynasty passed through Mazu Rock during his ill-fated journey, he composed a seven-character quatrain: “Once I used my flying staff to break mossy traces, / A single square root locks the cave’s gate. / Above the mountain live families, below runs the path, / The heart of the stone speaks without words.” His overwhelming grief over the shattered nation and his own turmoil turned into silent reflection. Passing around the “Bashimen (Stone Gate),” a lake suddenly appears, surrounded by cliffs on three sides with a perfectly round, mirror-like pool in the center, known as Moon Pond. Walking eastward along the lakeside stone steps, a cliff suddenly juts out from the mountainside, hollow in the middle and hanging externally, with a waterfall cascading from the mountaintop like raindrops from the eaves. A few dozen meters further ahead lies a large cave that once housed the “Mahavira Hall.” It is said to be one of the earliest Buddhist temples in China where Indian Buddhism was introduced, though now in ruins, its former glory of incense smoke and mist is hard to trace. Further up are attractions such as Dripping Rock, Moon Howling Platform, Chessboard Stone, Waterfall Spring, Immortal Bridge, Dragon Well, Tiger Stone, Seven-Star Mound, Banana Cave, Hanging Plaque Stone, Seal Stone, Push-Cart Stone, Guanyin Rock, and Lotus Stone—each scene connects seamlessly, overwhelming the eyes, each with its own cultural story, like a Zen koan, making visitors linger in awe. The two most captivating sights of Mazu Rock are “One-Line Sky” and Dai Zong Lecture Hall. “One-Line Sky” earned its name because “two cliffs stand hundreds of feet apart, with a single line of sky in between, visible only at noon.” Ancient descriptions say: “The stream flows downward, daring not to look down; bird tracks are nowhere to be seen; the shade is stifling, as if strange ghosts and monsters lurk within—truly a place of seclusion, wonder, danger, and beauty.” Poets and scholars throughout the ages have composed poems here. The Song Dynasty’s Luo Nianyan left a matching couplet: “A cliff painting splits the sky in a single line, / Layered rocks sprinkle two thousand rows of clarity.” The Yuan Dynasty calligrapher Zhao Mengfu wrote: “A vinegar gnat dances in a jar, / A well frog dwells in its hole. / Do not see this as a single line—open your eyes to ninety thousand miles.” He also carved the three characters “Bie You Tian (Another Heaven)” into the rock. The 43rd Celestial Master of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Yuchu, wrote in his poem “Staying Overnight at Mazu Rock”: “Carved out as a monastery, a meditation abode above. / Light lamps to hear the Buddha’s fragrance, listen to rain in the monks’ quarters. / Ancient trees blend with cliff clouds, secluded flowers grow long by the stream. / I’ve always loved the likes of Su and Huang, / Finding no illusions in this busyness.” The Qing Dynasty inspector Zhai Fengzhu described Mazu Rock: “Precipitous ravines and cliffs tower in layers, / Secluded forests and ancient caves run deep. / Moon bridges emerge where streams meet hills, / In the height of summer, clear music plays like metal.” The other highlight is Dai Zong Lecture Hall, where Monk Mazu Daoyi preached Buddhist scriptures. At that time, abbots from many famous temples across the country gathered here to study before returning to lead their own temples. It is said that the monk Jianzhen even listened to teachings here before his journey to Japan. Dai Zong Lecture Hall taught not only Buddhism but also Confucianism. The Song Dynasty Neo-Confucian scholar Zhu Xi once hung a plaque inscribed with “Zhonghe (Harmony)” in the hall, teaching according to the regulations of the “White Deer Grotto Academy” and training numerous disciples. Lu Jiuyuan, the master of the School of Mind in the Song Dynasty, once lectured here, expounding ideas such as “the mind is principle” and “the universe is my mind, my mind is the universe.” Since ancient times, Mazu Rock has integrated Buddhism and Confucianism, making it a central hub of Jiangnan’s Buddhist and Confucian culture.

Address: Zhanggong District, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, Jiangxi Province, China