Shicheng Haizang Temple

Shicheng Haizang Temple

Shicheng Haizang Temple is a cultural heritage site protected at the county level in Shicheng County.

Haizang Temple was first built during the Yuanyou era of Emperor Zong (1078–1086), but had long been out of use. It was rebuilt during the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1661), but most of it was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and has since been restored. Behind the temple is a waterfall, and on the rock face beside it are four large running-script characters “Qinjiang Qiguan” (Marvelous Sight of Qin River) inscribed by the Qing Dynasty monk Zhili. The carving is 4.4 meters long and 1.17 meters wide, with smaller characters “Yin Daoxiu” inscribed at the beginning and “Zhili Erected” at the end. The temple currently houses several stone inscriptions: the engraved temple gate plaque “Haizang Temple” inscribed by the abbot Longshan Pei in the 36th year of the Kangxi reign (1697); the “Record of the Reconstruction of Haizang Temple” composed and written by Magistrate Wan Dianzhao; the “Haizang Temple Origin and Development Stele” from the 61st year of the Kangxi reign (1722); and the “Haizang Temple Mountain Field Stele” from the third year of the Yongzheng reign (1725), which documents the land purchased under the supervision of monk Zhili. The cliff inscriptions at Haizang Temple feature vigorous and unrestrained brushwork, demonstrating profound historical and artistic value. Having endured over 300 years of cascading water and waterfall erosion without noticeable wear, they hold significant historical, artistic, and scientific research importance.

In April 1983, it was designated as a county-level cultural heritage site in Shicheng County.