Baoji Temple

Baoji Temple

Baoji Temple is a cultural tourism site.

Baoji Temple is now an important tourist attraction in Pingxiang, located between South Ring Road and the old Zhejiang-Jiangxi Railway line, just outside the southern gate of Pingxiang city. Originally named Xingju Temple and also known as Fanlin Temple, it was first built during the Tang Dynasty. During the Guangshun era of the Later Zhou Dynasty, it was constructed on land donated by a local resident surnamed Li. It was renamed Baoji Temple during the Xiande era (954–959) of the Later Zhou Dynasty. The Song Dynasty literary figure Huang Tingjian wrote and inscribed the “Record of Baoji Chan Temple” in the second year of Chongning (1103), and also authored two plaque inscriptions: “Virtue Flavor Kitchen” and “Enter Return Hall.” He also planted a podocarpus tree in the temple grounds. The temple was destroyed during the Yuan Dynasty. During the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, a monastic administration office was established. In the 21st year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1682), Monk Jiuxue raised funds for renovations. In front of the temple was the Guan Yu Hall, built by a local resident named Li Gushan, next to which was the Guanyin Spring—no more than a foot deep, cool even in summer, but now dried up. There was also the Bell Prohibition Tower, the former site of the Lianxi Academy, which was also destroyed. During the Guangxu era, monks revived the monastic community, and Monk Zhaotang rebuilt the mountain gate. From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republican era, Abbot Tiyun presided over the temple for over 30 years, holding monastic ordination ceremonies every three to five years. He led local monks in renovating the halls, constructing a scripture depository, founding the General Pagoda Courtyard, and building the Dengxia Pavilion, among other projects. During the Republican period, the county monastic administration office, Buddhist association, and lay Buddhists' gathering place were all housed within the temple. Abbot Tiyun also served as a council member of the Buddhist association, raising funds to purchase a large collection of translated Mahayana Buddhist sutras, vinayas, and commentaries, and established a Buddhist studies training institute to nurture young monks. At the time, Baoji Temple was not only the center of Buddhism in the entire county but also the main hub for Buddhism across the border region of Hunan and Jiangxi, including the counties of Pingxiang, Liuyang, Liling, and Youxian. It once housed fifty to sixty monks, and with visiting monks, the total could reach a hundred. However, due to frequent warfare and chaos, especially two invasions by Japanese forces that caused severe damage, Buddhist activities gradually declined. In 1990, Baoji Temple was reopened, and reconstruction of all original buildings began in May 1993. The then-president of the Buddhist Association of China, Zhao Puchu, inscribed the name of the rebuilt temple. The Mahavira Hall was completed in 1995, covering an area of 556 square meters, standing 22 meters tall, 26 meters wide, and 21 meters deep. Other structures built subsequently include the Heavenly King Hall, the Guest Hall, East and West Side Halls, and monk quarters. The entire Baoji Temple now covers an area of about 7,000 square meters, with a construction area of around 7,000 square meters. The buildings follow the Ming and Qing architectural styles, constructed with reinforced concrete, brick, stone, and timber, featuring red walls, yellow tiles, and a resplendent, solemn atmosphere.

Pingxiang City, Jiangxi Province