Puzhao Temple in Shicheng

Shicheng Puzhao Temple

Shicheng Puzhao Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Puzhao Zen Temple is located on Ruri Mountain, about 20 li northwest of the county town. Ruri Mountain was originally called Gaodai, and the peak was formerly known as Gaoling Peak. It was later renamed because legend has it that there was a jade tablet (a sundial) in a nunnery at the top of the mountain that could rotate with the sun. The mountain lies at the border between Shicheng and Ningdu, with its northern, eastern, and southern sides belonging to Shicheng—specifically, the former Tongping, Qiufang, and Shaduan areas under Qinqjiang Town—and the western side belonging to Jinqian area of Tianbu Township in Ningdu County.

In ancient times, there was a Buddhist temple on Gaoling Peak, named Gaoling Peak Nunnery. The 1745 (Qing Qianlong 10th year) *Shicheng County Annals* recorded: “Gaoling Peak Nunnery, over 20 li west of the county town at Gaodai, was founded during the Ming Wanli era by Monk Xingqi, rebuilt in the 17th year of the Kangxi reign (1678) during the Qing Dynasty (hereafter referred to as Qing) by Monk Jichou, and renovated in the 9th year of the Yongzheng reign (1731) by Monk Zhaosu through fundraising.” The 1824 (Qing Daoguang 4th year) *Shicheng County Annals* also noted: “Over 20 li west of the county town at Gaodai, during the Ming Wanli era, Monk Xingqi leased land from Bai Shisanlang of Tongping to build the temple, and in the 9th year of the Qing Yongzheng reign, the mountain’s owner, the Bai family, rebuilt it.” Between the Kangxi and Yongzheng eras, a Taoist temple was also constructed, with Master Yubenlai preaching here, attracting many disciples at the time. After multiple reconstructions, Buddhism and Taoism coexisted, hence the saying of Upper, Middle, and Lower Temples.

Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, this site has produced three eminent Buddhist masters: Hui Xian, Liao Fan, and De Qin. Renowned monks such as Zheng Jing, Ci Hui, Fa Deng, and Xiu Cheng have successively served as abbots here. In the late Qing and early Republican period, the site was once influenced by the Luo Zu sect but was later corrected by eminent monks such as Neng Liang and Neng Xiang, and renamed Ruri Nunnery, reverting to a Buddhist temple. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, a few monks still resided here, farming for self-sufficiency and maintaining the incense offerings. During the Cultural Revolution, the monks were driven down the mountain, and the temple was destroyed. After the Cultural Revolution, religious activities gradually resumed. In July 1979, the renowned Shicheng monk Ren Shan led his disciples to the site, living in makeshift huts, holding Buddhist rituals, and simultaneously traveling extensively to raise funds for rebuilding the temple. In 1980, the main hall and several living quarters were completed. In June 1984, with approval from the Jiangxi Provincial People’s Government, it was designated as a key open temple in the province. Zhao Puchu, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of the Buddhist Association of China, personally inscribed the temple name “Ruri Mountain Puzhao Zen Temple” and the plaque for the “Mahavira Hall.” During this period, with donations from other regions, the temple underwent large-scale construction. In the winter of 1982, Shanghai resident Yu Qihong funded the installation of electricity from Tongping at the foot of the mountain to the temple, providing lighting and construction power. In 1984, Venerable Hong Chuan, President of the Singapore Buddhist Federation, devotee Chen Lihua, Venerable Sheng Yi of the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island in Hong Kong, and others donated substantial funds to expand the temple. In 1986, the Ganzhou Regional Transportation Bureau supported the construction of a road from Tongping to the temple. The following year, Shanghai devotee Zheng Songying proposed establishing a library and donated over 100 books. Subsequently, donors such as Guangdong’s He Zelin, Fujian’s Guanghua Temple, Shanghai Buddhist associations, and Hong Kong’s Venerable Zhi Heng also contributed, leading to the creation of a library with over 300 books. The temple houses two sets of the “Tripitaka,” one introduced by Monk Yin Ci during the Republican era and the other brought in by Monk Ren Shan after liberation. Additionally, Hong Kong devotees Wu Juekuan and Monk Guo Hui helped fund the construction of a cement floor and hexagonal brick plaza in front of the main hall. Over the next few years, through continuous renovation and expansion, structures such as the Heavenly King Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, Great Compassion Hall, Vairocana Hall, Reclining Buddha Hall, Scripture Repository, Dharma Hall, and Bell and Drum Towers were built, forming a grand and majestic temple complex. The resident monastic community grew to over 60 people.

In 1981, at the beginning of the temple’s establishment, under the leadership of Monk Ren Shan, the temple began conferring the Triple Platform Full Ordination. Although the ordination was not widely publicized, hundreds of people came to participate upon hearing the news. In 1984, with approval from the Jiangxi Provincial Government, the Triple Platform Full Ordination was conferred again, with over 1,000 participants including eminent monks and lay followers from 3 municipalities directly under the central government, 17 provinces, and over 80 counties (cities), and 921 individuals receiving ordination. On May 10, 1988, the third expanded meeting of the first executive council of the Jiangxi Buddhist Association was held here. From the 12th to the 15th, the “Provincial Temple Self-Sufficiency Production Meeting” was convened here by the provincial religious affairs office. Attendees included the President of the Buddhist Association of China, Venerable Guo Yi of Donglin Temple on Mount Lu, Vice President and Abbot Venerable Yicheng of Yunju Mountain, eminent monks from famous mountains across the province, as well as representatives from local and county (city) religious affairs departments and Buddhist associations. The meeting, chaired by Dong Jianbo, Director of the Provincial Religious Affairs Office, lasted three days. In the same winter, the seventh anniversary of the temple’s restoration and the consecration ceremony of the Mahavira Hall Buddha statues were held, attended by over 1,000 people, including eminent monks and lay followers from Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and famous mountains in Jiangxi and Fujian, as well as officials and relevant personnel from the Shicheng and Ningdu county governments. Eminent monks from Hong Kong, such as Venerable Bei Yuan, and from the United States, such as Venerable Liao Zhi of Los Angeles, also sent congratulatory inscriptions and donations in support.

Through more than a decade of dedicated efforts by Monk Ren Shan, the fame of Ruri Mountain Temple grew significantly, attracting a constant stream of worshippers from nearby areas, and often drawing visitors from neighboring provinces, regions, and counties (cities) who came specifically to pay homage. Its incense offerings flourished like none other in the region.

In 1990, Monk Ren Shan left the temple to reside in seclusion at Tianchi Rock in Ningdu. The following year, Venerable Yao Yun succeeded as abbot, with Venerable Chang Xing managing daily affairs. In 1998, Venerable Chang You took over the management of the temple, with assistance from positions such as First Seat, Supervisor, Temple Warden, Precentor, Guest Reception Officer, and various hall duties.

According to a 1997 survey, the temple had nine brick-and-wood structured palace-style Dharma halls, 64 rooms for dormitories, living, and reception, two kitchens, two dining halls, a four-room Merit Hall, and one Common Stupa. The temple also housed dozens of wooden sculptures, including the Four Heavenly Kings, Eighteen Arhats, Guanyin, Ksitigarbha, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Maitreya, Skanda, and Sangharama. The temple owned 12 mu of paddy fields, cultivating 3 mu itself and renting out the rest, along with about 100 mu of hillside land yielding timber and tea fruits. In recent years, due to declining Buddhist activities, the monastic community scattered. That year, 23 residents were registered, including 9 bhikkhus, 4 bhikkhunis, 2 samaneras, 1 samaneri, and 5 lay practitioners. The managing monk was Venerable Chang You.

The temple originally followed the Caodong school of Zen but later incorporated the Yunmen lineage, practicing both Zen and Pure Land Buddhism. The temple houses a pottery jar, which is the alchemical vessel of the late Ming and early Qing Taoist Yu Benlai, unearthed in 1981. When unearthed, the jar had a lid, which was later broken, but the jar itself remains in the temple. Contemporary revised editions of the *Shicheng County Annals*, the *Shicheng County Cultural Relics Annals*, and the county museum all have records of it.