Taihe Fahua Temple

Taihe Fahua Temple

Taihe Fahua Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Fahua Temple is located in Shuikeng Village, Qiaotou Town, Taihe County, about 3 kilometers from the Jing-Tai Highway (National Highway 319). It is a Buddhist temple approved for public access by the Taihe County Government after the reform and opening-up period.

Historical records state: Fahua Temple was first built in the late Tang Dynasty and was originally called Gaozi Mingshan, due to the thick bamboo groves covering the surrounding mountains. It is said that during the late Tang Dynasty, the temple was once very popular, often attracting worshippers who came to offer incense and pray.

In its early heyday, Fahua Temple covered an area of about 10 acres, and several temple halls still stood at the time of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Later, the temple was burned down, leaving only rubble on the original site. Villagers grazed cattle and grew vegetables on the temple grounds. Lay devotee Zhong Yuexiu, recalling how inconvenient it had been for pilgrims to travel far to worship, resolved to revive Fahua Temple. In 1994, after the Taihe County Government approved the reconstruction of the temple, Zhong began fundraising from all over, and despite her advanced age and frail health, she worked diligently for several years. She raised more than one million yuan and built a brand-new temple on the original site.

The newly built Fahua Temple is nestled in the valley of Gaozi Mingshan. The mountain is lush with trees, a rushing stream flows in front of the temple, and the air inside is filled with incense. The temple is majestic, with its Hall of Heavenly Kings, Mahavira Hall, Yuantong Hall, meditation rooms, and guest hall all featuring red walls and yellow tiles, shining in resplendent glory.

Fahua Temple is conveniently located near Qiaotou Town, which contributes to its thriving number of worshippers. During temple fairs or the birthdays of bodhisattvas, the roads are bustling with traffic and people. The current abbot, Zhong — now nearly 80 years old — remains full of ambition and is determined to build a bell tower, drum tower, scripture depository, and Kṣitigarbha Hall within her lifetime, perfecting the temple as a sacred destination for Buddhists.

Fahua Temple is the seat of the Taihe County Buddhist Association and also serves as the Taihe County Buddhist Laypersons’ Forest. In 2003, it was rated as a “Five-Star” religious activity site by the Ji’an Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs. In September 2007, it was designated as a Key Buddhist Temple in Jiangxi Province by the Jiangxi Provincial Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs.

Shuikeng Village: Overview of Shuikeng Village, Qiaotou Town, Taihe County

I. Basic Information

Shuikeng Village in Qiaotou Town, Taihe County, is situated in the western part of Taihe County, at the eastern foot of Mount Jinggang. National Highway 319 and the Jing-Tai Expressway run through the village. Two rivers originating from Mount Jinggang — the Liuzhi and Liuba Rivers — wind around the village like two emerald ribbons. The village covers a total area of 18.35 square kilometers, comprising 12 villager groups across 19 natural villages, with 313 households and a population of 1,373. The arable land area is 2,064 mu, and forested land spans 25,000 mu. In 2011, the per capita income was 4,630 yuan. The village enjoys a forest coverage rate of 95%... More details about Shuikeng Village++