Cihua Temple

Cihua Temple

Cihua Temple is a cultural heritage site protected by Jiangxi Province.

Cihua Temple has a long history and was once honored by Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, as the "Foremost Buddhist Monastery Under Heaven." Founded in 1166 AD by the founding monk Pu’an on Nanquan Mountain in Cihua Town, it stands as one of the major Buddhist centers in Jiangyou. At its peak, the temple covered an area of over 60,000 square meters, featuring 10 main halls, 24 east-west dormitories, and a total of more than 2,000 rooms. Due to damage from wars throughout the dynasties, it has been rebuilt multiple times. Standing in front of the temple and looking up, the central plaque above the mountain gate bears the powerful characters “Vast as the Sea and Sky.” Two stone pagodas stand guard at the entrance, soaring impressively toward the sky. To the left of the temple is the Guanyin Pavilion, housing the Goddess of Mercy, where countless worshippers visit daily to pray for children and blessings. In 2013, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall within the temple was newly renovated. Every year on the 19th day of the ninth lunar month, the temple hosts a five-day fair at the Guanyin Pavilion. Devotees from the surrounding areas as well as from Fujian, Hubei, Jiangsu, and Anhui flock here to offer incense, worship, and engage in trade, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

The melodious morning bells and evening drums of Cihua Temple, along with the drifting chants of Buddhist sutras, attract a continuous stream of worshippers. The temple plays a significant role in educating visitors and spreading the profound teachings of Zen culture, making it an important destination for Zen-themed tourism in Yichun.

Cihua Town: Located in the northwest corner of Yuanzhou District, Yichun City, Jiangxi Province, Cihua Town sits at the strategic border between Hunan and Jiangxi, often referred to as the “Throat of Wu and Chu.” It is the convergence point of two provinces, four counties/cities, two townships, and four towns. It borders Wanzi to the east, Liuyang in Hunan to the north, Pingxiang to the west, and three local townships to the south. Covering a total area of 202 square kilometers, the town governs 19 administrative villages with a population of nearly 70,000, making it one of the largest towns in Yichun City.

Cihua has a proud revolutionary heritage. It is the birthplace of the first Party cell in Yichun City and one of the cradles of the Autumn Harvest Uprising. It serves as a patriotic education base in Yichun City... More details about Cihua Town++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units