Puhua Chan Temple

Puhua Chan Temple

Puhua Chan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Puhua Chan Temple (originally named Qinglong Nunnery) is located on the southeastern lakeshore of Poyang Lake in the northwestern part of Yugan County, within the territory of Nanlongling in Datang Township, with a road leading directly to the mountain gate. The temple was first built in the sixth year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty’s Shengzu era (1667 AD). In ancient times, the mountain here stood prominently, lush and verdant, with swaying trees towering into the sky, rolling hills stretching as far as the eye could see, boundless fertile fields, thick reeds, shimmering blue waters, majestic temples, and wisps of incense smoke lingering in the air.　

In the thirteenth year of the Jiaqing reign during the Qing Dynasty’s Renzong era (1808 AD), monks Shi Ciyun and Shi Ci’en engaged in ascetic practice to revive the temple, expanding the halls, guest rooms, and living quarters. The Buddha statues were solemn and resplendent, and the morning chants echoed through the cliffs and valleys. Devotees from neighboring areas flocked to the temple, making it a veritable ancient monastic complex of considerable scale, and it was honored as one of the top ten temples and nunneries in Raozhou.　

During the Cultural Revolution, the temple halls and Buddha statues were almost completely destroyed, and all religious activities ceased.　

After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the policy of freedom of religious belief was implemented, and many devotees advocated rebuilding the ancient temple. In 1994, Master Shi Shengshou (secular name Wu Yushu, a local resident), the former abbot of Youmin Temple in Nanchang, was invited. In 1995, the approval document for the temple’s restoration was issued, construction commenced on a chosen date, the main hall’s beam was erected by the end of the year, and the hall was completed the following year, with multiple Buddha and Bodhisattva statues enshrined. In 1999, the Ksitigarbha Hall was built, and a ceremony was held to inaugurate the Buddha statues. In the fourth year, a golden bell was cast, a Dharma drum was made, a precious cauldron was placed, and guest rooms and living quarters were constructed. In the sixth year, a perimeter wall was built around the temple. In 2001, the ground was leveled... The next steps include raising funds to construct auxiliary and main structures such as the Heavenly King Hall, Chanting Hall, Guanyin Hall, Sangharama Hall, Patriarchs Hall, Scripture Depository, Guest Hall, Storage Room, Mountain Gate, Liberation Pond, Welcome Bridge, Transformation Furnace, and Funeral Hall.