Huanglong Temple on Mount Lu

Huanglong Temple on Mount Lu

Huanglong Temple on Mount Lu is a cultural tourism attraction.

Huanglong Temple on Mount Lu is located at the foot of Yuping Peak on Mount Lu. Situated in the heart of the mountain, it faces Tianwang Peak in the front, backs onto Yuping Peak, with the Scripture Granting Pavilion to the west and a stream flowing below. The temple complex is “embraced by countless mountains and surrounded by verdant pines and cypresses,” with bamboo groves shielding the sunlight, creating a uniquely serene and picturesque landscape, often described as a “true scenic gem.” Legend has it that as early as the Jin Dynasty, the monk Tan Shen practiced here and planted two beautiful shade trees and one ginkgo tree.

Huanglong Temple on Mount Lu was first built during the Ming Dynasty by the monk Che Kong in the Wanli era. Legend has it that when Che Kong traveled and arrived at the foot of Yuping Peak, he was captivated by the “mountain ranges encircling the area,” dense forests, clear pools, cascading waterfalls, and the tranquil, profound scenery, feeling an instant affection for the place and a desire to settle there. However, at the time, he noticed herds of deer roaming the foothills, making it impossible to approach and hindering the construction of the temple. He then silently prayed, “If this place is meant for me, may these deer move away.” The next day, when he returned to inspect the site, his wish had come true — “there were no traces of the deer.” Thus, Che Kong cleared the land and established the temple on the spot. Initially, because the area was once frequented by wild deer and the wilderness was open and expansive, he named it “Luye” (Deer Field). In the early days, the temple was also called “Luye Chanlin” (Deer Field Zen Forest), and Wang Zongmu, who was then the Jiangxi Provincial Education Commissioner, inscribed the temple plaque. Later, since Che Kong was a disciple of the Huanglong sect of the Linji school of Buddhism, and the temple was built near Huanglong Pool, it was also named “Huanglong Temple.” Over the decades that Che Kong presided over Huanglong Temple, he gradually completed the construction of various halls and pavilions. Upon completion, Huanglong Temple presented itself as an imperial-style architectural complex, “modeled after the scale of wooden pavilions and grand halls,” nestled within a secluded valley surrounded by dense forests and bamboo groves, exuding an especially solemn, dignified, mysterious, and ethereal atmosphere. At the time, Che Kong placed great emphasis on the preservation of the forest around the temple, instructing the monks to protect every bamboo shoot and tree in the surrounding valleys, declaring, “Not a single branch of the mountain’s trees shall be broken. If any are, legal action will be pursued until the branches regrow.” This principle was passed down through generations, and the monks revered the trees as if they were their own lives. As a result, people at the time remarked, “Thus the forests remained lush. When I passed by the ridge, I lingered, unable to bear to leave.” Huanglong Temple thus gained widespread fame that has endured through the ages.