Baifu Temple in Shicheng

Shicheng Baifu Temple

Shicheng Baifu Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Baifu Temple, located on the banks of the Qín River in the southeastern part of Shicheng County, Jiangxi Province, was built during the Dazhong Xiangfu era (1008–1016) of the Northern Song Dynasty. In 1110 (the Gengyin year of Daguan), the monk Yingke renovated it. During the Chongning era (1102–1106), monks Yingke, Daofu, and the monastic community raised funds to build the seven-story, hexagonal Baifu Pagoda behind the temple. The temple has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. In 1360 (the Gengzi year of Zhizheng in the Yuan Dynasty), it was ruined by bandits. In 1370 (the third year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty), the monk Minghai rebuilt it. In 1655 (the fifteenth year of Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty), Magistrate Guo Yaojing reconstructed the temple. In 1751 (the sixth year of Qianlong), Magistrate Ma Yinqi prayed for rain here with success, and thus, together with Clerk Chai Wenyuan and local gentry Xiong Chengtong, he raised funds for another renovation. In the early years of the Republic of China, the Jade Emperor Altar was added to the left of the temple, making it a complex that integrated a Buddhist temple, pagoda, and divine altar. In the winter of 1931, the county authorities demolished the temple under the pretext of rebuilding the city wall. Several years later, Nun Zhengfang initiated fundraising efforts for its reconstruction. In 1940, the renowned eminent monk Yin Ci (the first graduate of the China Buddhist College and an executive director of the Buddhist Association of China) was invited to serve as abbot. He oversaw further renovations and expansions, recast Buddha statues, and personally traveled to Shanghai to bring back a set of the Buddhist Canon. In 1943, Xie Yuhan, a Hanlin academician from Xingguo County in the late Qing Dynasty, inscribed the plaque “Mahavira Hall,” which greatly enhanced the temple’s reputation, making it the central site of the Linji school in the county.

In the first decade after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the government used the site as a grain depot and offices for the Southeast Township Government and the Dongfeng People’s Commune. During the Cultural Revolution, the Buddha statues were destroyed, and the buildings were occupied by the county’s wooden nail factory. After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, in 1984, religious policies were reinstated, ownership was returned to the county Buddhist association, and the temple was officially opened to the public. After enduring centuries of change, this ancient temple finally reopened its spiritual light.

After 1993, the county Buddhist association and the lay Buddhist organization successively moved into the temple, and Baifu Temple became a majestic Buddhist monastery with solemn Buddha images. In 1993, with approval from the county government, the Buddhist association organized fundraising to construct a 347.79-square-meter antique-style Mahavira Hall. In 1996, the Guanyin Hall, Jade Buddha Hall, Kṣitigarbha Hall, West Hall, and dining hall were expanded, and various Buddha statues were recast. On October 28, 1997, an opening ceremony was held, presided over by Venerables Zhao Pin, Changbei, and Kuanyuan, with over 2,000 devotees from Guangzhou, Chaoshan, Puning, Shanghai, Ganzhou, neighboring counties, and the local area in attendance. During the reconstruction, support was received from eminent monks such as Venerable Shengyi of Hong Kong’s Po Lin Monastery, Venerable Xinming of Hong Kong’s Shixi Lanruo, Venerable Benhuan of Guangzhou’s Guangxiao Temple, Venerable Juehai of Lushan’s Xilin Temple, Venerable Miaole of Lushan’s Tiefu Temple, Venerable Dadings of Yongxiu’s Yunju Mountain Zhenru Temple, lay devotee Lin Mameiqin of Hong Kong, and Mr. Wen Yingjun of Taiwan, as well as donations from Buddhists everywhere. Zhao Puchu, president of the Buddhist Association of China, personally inscribed the plaque for the “Mahavira Hall.”

In 2006, to align with the overall urban planning of the county and support the Buddhist cause, the Shicheng County Party Committee and County Government incorporated the expansion of Baifu Temple into the urban construction plan as a key project. They allocated over 26,000 square meters of land free of charge, aiming to create a representative provincial center for religious and cultural exchange, historical and cultural exhibition, and tourism, integrating religion, culture, and tourism into a modern monastery. The planned site covers a total area of 25,600 square meters, with a construction area of 9,971.29 square meters and a total investment of over 78 million yuan. By May 2008, the planning and design were completed. The architectural design is primarily in a Song Dynasty style, reflecting Hakka and regional characteristics, creating a landscape that embodies local cultural spirit and identity. Emphasis was placed on natural preservation and overall harmony. The entire temple complex was divided into four functional zones: the Baifu Pagoda Cultural Relics Area, Hakka Culture Area, Baifu Temple Area, and Leisure Area, forming an ecologically landscaped Buddhist monastery.

Shicheng County Baifu Temple

Address: Xianyuan Village, Qínjiang Town, Shicheng County, Jiangxi Province

Postal Code: 342700