Tonghui Temple

Tonghui Temple

Located in the southwestern part of Zhangshu urban area, it is the only temple from the former Zhangshu Town that was established earliest and still retains its main hall to this day, formerly known as the "Ten Directions Zen Forest." It was first founded during the early Tang Dynasty (626–631 AD), when the eminent monk Daoxuan from the capital passed through this area. Seeing the simple and honest local customs and sensing auspicious conditions, he reclaimed land and built a temple named “Tonghui Temple.”

Tonghui Temple has a long history and has produced many eminent monks, including Master Huangbo Xiyun, Master Huangmei Guiyun, Master Liaochang, Master Fangjing, Master Liaokong, and Master Hailian. Numerous literati and artists have visited here to compose poetry and couplets, leaving behind many exquisite artworks and masterpieces. The original temple had six halls, including the Main Hall, Three Officials Hall, Kṣitigarbha Hall, and Guanyin Hall, covering a total area of approximately 2,000 square meters. It once featured inscriptions such as “Merit Hall” written by Wen Tianxiang and “Mahavira Hall” inscribed by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, but these were later destroyed. The current Tonghui Temple is located in Dianxia Town, Zhangshu City, and was rebuilt in 2005. It strives to establish five key features: a Medicine Buddha sacred site, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Treasure Hall, an essence of Buddhist culture, a Zhangshu Cultural Garden, and statues of renowned historical figures in traditional Chinese medicine.