Jing'an Baofeng Temple

Jing'an Baofeng Temple

Jing'an Baofeng Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Baofeng Temple

The thousand-year-old Baofeng Temple is located at the foot of Baozhu Peak in Baofeng Town. It was first built during the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty (749 AD) and was named after Emperor Xuanzong bestowed the plaque “Baofeng” in 850 AD (the fourth year of the Dazhong era). Baofeng Temple was an important site for Mazu Daoyi, the eighth patriarch of Zen Buddhism, and the final resting place of his relics. The original reliquary pagoda built during the Song Dynasty still remains well-preserved and is a national key cultural relic protection unit. Covering an area of over 700 acres with a construction area of more than 20,000 square meters, the temple is divided into five sections front to back and two courtyards east and west. It is grand and majestic, rich in Zen significance, and serves as the center of Buddhist culture in Jiangxi Province, one of the Four Great Temples of the Jiangnan region, and a model Zen temple nationwide. The temple is presided over by Master Yicheng, former president of the Buddhist Association of China, and also houses the Jiangxi Buddhist Academy. With the dissemination of Zen teachings as its core mission, it is a rare, purely meditative Zen temple in China. Its monthly public lecture series, the “Baofeng Lecture,” features distinguished scholars from top universities and renowned academic institutions both in China and abroad. It has become a nationally recognized public lecture brand in the fields of Zen Buddhism and Chinese traditional culture.

As the largest Buddhist Zen temple in Jiangxi in terms of architectural scale, the thousand-year-old Baofeng Temple covers an area of 476 acres, including a constructed area of 30,000 square meters. Known as one of the Four Great Temples of the Jiangnan region, it is also a model Zen temple nationwide.

Built during the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty (749 AD) by Monk Shuiliao, the temple was initially called Letan Temple, also known as Falin Temple. Located by the Letan Pool and within the Shimen Mountain range, at the foot of Baozhu Peak, it earned the name “Ancient Temple of Shimen.” In 785 AD (the first year of the Zhenyuan era), Mazu led his disciples here on multiple occasions. After Mazu’s passing, his relics were enshrined in this temple. In 791 AD (the seventh year of the Zhenyuan era), Left Minister Quande Quan Dexi was ordered by Emperor Dezong to build a reliquary pagoda for Mazu. In 850 AD (the fourth year of the Dazhong era), Emperor Xuanzong bestowed the plaque “Baofeng,” and the temple was renamed Baofeng Temple, a name it retains to this day. It is also an important site for Mazu Daoyi and is referred to as the Mazu Daochang (field of practice).

After more than 1,200 years of history, Baofeng Temple has gone through cycles of prosperity and decline, weathering many trials. During the Cultural Revolution, it suffered further misfortune and was left deserted. In the autumn of 1992, Master Yicheng, then Abbot of Zhenru Temple and current President of both the Buddhist Association of China and the Buddhist Association of Jiangxi Province, proposed restoring Baofeng Temple. With strong support from the Jing’an County Government, reconstruction began immediately. The foundation of the Mahavira Hall was laid at the end of 1992, construction started in 1993, and after seven years and an investment of over 30 million yuan, the project was completed on October 20, 1999. A grand ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of the temple, the consecration of the Buddha statues, and the enthronement of the abbot.

The temple is divided into an eastern and western courtyard, separated by a row of cypress trees in the middle at the front. The eastern courtyard houses the campus of the Jiangxi Buddhist Academy; the western courtyard is the main section. Therefore, the historical mountain gate was located where the memorial archway stands now.

The hall in front is the Mountain Gate Hall. The two small shrines on the east and west sides in front of the Mountain Gate Hall are dedicated to the God of Earth and the God of Mountains.

The second hall is the Heavenly King Hall, where the Four Heavenly Kings are commonly known among the people as symbols of favorable wind, rain, and peace. Behind the Heavenly King Hall is the Skanda Hall, which enshrines the Skanda Bodhisattva.

The Bell Tower and Drum Tower are located on the upper floors on the east and west sides of the Mahavira Hall. Master Mazu Daoyi, born in 709 AD (the third year of the Jinglong era under Emperor Zhongzong of Tang) in Shifang, Han Prefecture (now Sichuan Province), came from a wealthy family. After receiving the precepts from Master Yuan, he left Sichuan for Nanyue in Hunan, where he lived alone in a hut, meditating all day. The sixth patriarch Huineng’s disciple, Huairang, saw great potential in Mazu and guided him with the analogy that just as grinding a brick cannot make a mirror, sitting in meditation will not lead to Buddhahood. Mazu then studied Zen under Huairang for ten years and secretly received Dharma transmission. Huineng once told Huairang, “In the future, the Dharma will spread through you. This young colt will trample all under heaven.” He predicted that Mazu would establish his own distinct school within the Zen tradition. Mazu and Master Baizhang Huaihai made significant contributions to Zen Buddhism, influencing its development widely. They established unique monastic organizations and temple management protocols for Zen, playing a vital role in the growth and consolidation of Buddhism in China. Hence, the “General History of China” states, “Mazu built the monastic community, and Baizhang established the regulations.”

The Mahavira Hall is the main hall of the temple (the term “Mahavira” praises the noble virtue of Shakyamuni Buddha). It is the largest Mahavira Hall in Jiangxi Province and among the top in China, covering a construction area of 1,100 square meters and standing 26 meters tall. At its center is the founder of Buddhism, Shakyamuni Buddha. On the right is the Medicine Buddha of the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli World, and on the left is Amitabha Buddha of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The hall also houses four great bodhisattvas: on the east side is Manjushri Bodhisattva, riding a lion and holding a sword (or a wish-fulfilling jewel). The sword symbolizes sharp wisdom, and the lion represents the majesty of wisdom—thus, he is known as the Bodhisattva of Great Wisdom. His sacred site is Mount Wutai in Shanxi. On the west side is Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, riding a six-tusked white elephant and holding a lotus, known for performing good deeds and called the Bodhisattva of Great Action. His sacred site is Mount Emei in Sichuan. Two more bodhisattvas are enshrined at the back, which we’ll introduce later. First, let’s look at the surrounding Arhat Hall, which houses 500 arhats, each with unique and vivid expressions. At the back, the large golden statue in the center is the familiar Guanyin Bodhisattva.

The only ancient structure in Baofeng Temple—the Mazu Reliquary Pagoda. It consists of two parts built in two different dynasties. The inner part is the reliquary pagoda, and the outer part is the protective pavilion. The pagoda pavilion was built in 1085 AD (the eighth year of the Yuanyou era of the Song Dynasty), making it a Song-era structure with a history of 919 years. It is regarded as a precious example of Song Dynasty stone architecture in the Jiangnan region. It has two distinctive features: first, the pavilion is entirely constructed from granite with no use of bricks, wood, or adhesives; second, its design is hexagonal, with six sides, six angles, and six pillars. Both the interior and exterior adopt classical architectural styles with bracket sets (dougong). It stands 5.5 meters tall and is 5.2 meters deep. The architectural artistry is exquisite, and the structure is exceptionally stable—rare throughout the country—and holds high research value for the study of Song Dynasty stone architecture.

The teaching building of the Jiangxi Buddhist Academy is currently the largest Buddhist educational facility in Jiangxi, covering an area of 2,200 square meters with an investment of 5 million yuan. The building is of high construction quality, exquisitely decorated, uniquely designed, and aesthetically pleasing, making it another highlight of the temple.

Address: Near Miaoqian Road, Baofeng Village, Baofeng Town, Jing'an County, Yichun City

Type: Temple

Opening Hours:

9:00-18:00

Ticket Information:

Free admission.

Baofeng Town: Located in northwestern Jiangxi, Jing'an County's Baofeng Town lies within the core scenic area of the Jiuling Mountain National Nature Reserve and the Sanzhualun AAAA-level National Forest Park. It is home to the world-renowned Baofeng Chan Temple. The town is 22 kilometers from Jing'an County and 59 kilometers from Nanchang, the provincial capital. With a total population of 8,321, including 2,321 in the town center, the town covers an area of 196.5 square kilometers, with the town area spanning 1.5 square kilometers (planned area: 3 square kilometers). It governs 6 administrative villages and 1 community.

The town has 260,000 mu of forested land, with a forest coverage rate as high as 89.3%. … Baofeng Town detailed information++