Fenghuang Temple in Cixian County

Fenghuang Temple in Cixian County

Fenghuang Temple in Cixian County is a cultural tourism attraction.

Originally named Zhaofu Temple, Fenghuang Temple is located southwest of Shichang Village, Dutang Township, Cixian County, Hebei Province, and was a renowned temple in northern China’s history. Built at the foot of Phoenix Mountain, it is commonly known as Fenghuang Temple by locals. According to existing historical records, the temple was first constructed during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. In the past, Fenghuang Temple was under the jurisdiction of Zhangde Prefecture in Henan Province and was listed as one of the subordinate monasteries of Shaolin Temple. At its peak, it had hundreds of buildings, thousands of acres of farmland, over a hundred monks (both scholarly and martial), tens of thousands of followers, and dozens of affiliated temples and nunneries. The incense offerings were abundant, and visitors came in droves. The morning bells and evening drums were pleasing to the ear; the Buddhist scriptures, each word a lesson. Chinese Buddhist culture was widely promoted and developed here, and for a time, almost every village along both banks of the Zhang River in the western part of old Cizhou had a temple or a nunnery.

Since its establishment, the temple has endured a thousand years of ups and downs, witnessing great devastation and undergoing multiple renovations and relocations. According to surviving inscriptions: during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, Fenghuang Temple underwent large-scale repairs and maintenance. In the 25th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty, the temple was rebuilt after being destroyed by an earthquake. Five main halls were built in the north, housing the Buddhas of the Three Ages; three halls in the south enshrined Sakyamuni Buddha, along with several side halls and monk quarters. For a time, the temple was bustling with worshippers and wreathed in incense. In 1936, devastating floods on the Zhang River completely destroyed the ancient temple, leaving only three side rooms in the west wing. Under the leadership of monks such as Yanfo, the ancient temple was relocated to its current site. Due to historical constraints, only five cave-like worship spaces could be built for Buddhist practice. The surviving relics at Fenghuang Temple, including stone pagodas and fragmented steles from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, are important historical artifacts that attest to the temple’s long history.

Influenced by Buddhist culture, the surrounding towns of Fenghuang Temple have produced many talented individuals and heroes: Zhi Gong of the Yuan Dynasty, Zucai of the Ming Dynasty, Zhijin and Yanfo of the late Qing Dynasty, as well as monks such as Zhantong and Jinfu who joined the military to fight in the War of Resistance. Additionally, during the War of Resistance, lay disciples and followers of the temple, including Ji Degui, Ji Derong, Wang Weigang, Zhang Ruitang, Suofuming, and Li Kebao, formed the Anti-Japanese Salvation Friends Association. Within just three days, they gathered over 1,500 members, forming the embryonic version of the Ji'nan–Yubei Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Force. Within a year or two, it grew into a force of nearly 100,000 soldiers under the guerrilla commander Ji Degui, with senior leaders such as Li Xuefeng, Wang Weigang, and Chen Geng serving as political instructors. Moreover, the active enlistment of monks and followers from the temple reinforced the armed forces of the 129th Division of Liu-Deng Army, laying the foundation for national liberation. They made indelible contributions to the peace of the nation and the well-being of the people.

From 1998 to the present, the temple has invested tens of thousands of yuan in restoration and construction, successively building the Mahavira Hall, monk quarters, renovating Longquan (Dragon Spring), the Peony Pavilion, the Azure Dragon Cave, the White Tiger Cave, and the Buddha Mother Cave. Today, Fenghuang Temple has essentially formed the structural framework of a traditional temple complex and has become a sacred site in the Handan area of southern Hebei and the Anyang area of northern Henan for promoting Buddhist culture, purifying the mind, and offering eco-cultural tourism.

Transportation Guide

Address: Southwest of Shichang Village, Dutang Township, Cixian County, Handan City, Hebei Province

Getting There: Take a bus from Fengfeng to Dutang Township, then transfer to a minibus to Fenghuang Mountain.