Xilin Temple on Mount Lu

Xilin Temple on Mount Lu

Xilin Temple on Mount Lu is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

Xilin Temple on Mount Lu is situated at the northern foot of Mount Lu. It was constructed in the second year of the Taihe era during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (366 AD) by Tao Fan, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and is recognized as the premier temple on the northern side of Mount Lu. Originally, a monk named Zhu Dan built a humble thatched shelter, and after his passing, Hui Yong carried on his legacy. By the year 377 AD in the Jin Dynasty, Tao Fan, the Prefect of Jiangzhou, erected a proper temple and named it Xilin Temple. The temple thrived from the Jin to the Tang dynasties but was destroyed by fire during the Yuan Dynasty, rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty, and later ruined again. For a long time afterward, it remained in desolation. The current temple was recently renovated, featuring grand halls, towering Buddha statues, and a scale not inferior to its original grandeur—exuding uniqueness and solemnity. Among its relics, there was once a wall where Su Shi, upon visiting, noticed numerous poems inscribed by predecessors. Inspired, he took up a brush and composed “Inscription on the Wall of Xilin Temple,” which has since become a timeless masterpiece. One of its lines, “How can one tell the true face of Mount Lu?” is profoundly philosophical.

Xilin Temple is known as the foremost temple on the northern side of Mount Lu. Located at the foot of Xianglu Peak on the northern side of Mount Lu, west of Donglin Temple and south of Xiang Valley, it encompasses both Buddhist cultural heritage and historical ancient architectural sites. Covering an area of 60 acres, it lies 12 kilometers from downtown Jiujiang. In the second year of the Taihe era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (367 AD), Tao Fan, the Prefect of Jiangzhou, was deeply impressed by Hui Yong’s profound Buddhist knowledge. He invited Hui Yong to stay on Mount Lu to establish a hermitage for teaching and spreading Buddhist teachings. There, “pointing to the scenery and gazing at the stars, gathering disciples and measuring the land, clearing weeds to open forests, leveling lowlands and building on mountains, flattening ridges to erect terraces, and constructing halls against cliffs,” he built a temple complex with “corridors winding around streams and pathways encircling ponds.” It was renovated during the Sui Dynasty’s Kaihuang era. It flourished particularly during the Tang and Song dynasties and was ranked among the “Three Famous Temples of Mount Lu” alongside Donglin and Dalin Temples. Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty bestowed upon it the plaque “Taiping Xingguo Qianming Chan Temple.” It was destroyed during the Yuan Dynasty’s Renshen military conflicts. It was rebuilt in the 14th year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1381). In the 11th year of the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1654), Monk Guyi initiated Buddhist teachings at Xilin, turning it into a Chan (Zen) temple. During the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong era (1736–1795), the temple collapsed again, buried under brambles; in the 4th year of the Xianfeng era (1854), it was further devastated by the Taiping Rebellion. In the 11th year of Xianfeng (1861), Monk Lusong restored the halls, created new Buddha statues, and revitalized the monastic community. By the Republican era, it experienced several declines. During the Cultural Revolution, it suffered further damage—the guest hall and dining hall were demolished, and the temple grounds were turned into vegetable plots.

Since its founding, Xilin Temple has attracted a multitude of eminent scholars, poets, and literati, including Wei Yingwu, Han Yu, and Bai Juyi of the Tang Dynasty; Wu Qiao of the Five Dynasties; Su Shi, Yue Ke, and Huang Daozhou of the Song Dynasty; and Wang Shizhen and Shi Runzhang of the Qing Dynasty, all of whom left behind numerous poems. Su Shi’s “Inscription on the Wall of Xilin Temple” stands out for its profound, subtle meaning and philosophical insight, earning high praise from later generations. Alongside Li Bai’s “Viewing the Waterfall at Mount Lu” and Bai Juyi’s “Peach Blossoms at Dalin Temple,” it is hailed as one of the three pearls of poetry about Mount Lu.

In the past, Xilin Temple had structures such as Guangfu Guan, Liu Yimin’s Meditation Room, Xiao Cun’s Hermitage, Xilin Thatched Cottage, Shadow Stone, and Lanshou Pavilion, all now in ruins. In 1987, the Xilin Pagoda was listed as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi. In 1988, Abbot Shi Juehai made a grand vow to begin reconstruction efforts. In 1992, the Great Buddha’s Hall, left and right monk quarters, mountain gate, and enclosing walls were built. In 1996, the Heavenly King Hall, Sangharama Hall, Scripture Depository, main guest hall, and lotus pond were added. By the year 2000, the total construction area reached 10,000 square meters. With its multi-tiered pavilions, splendid golden hues, shaded greenery, and blooming flowers, it became a renowned and uniquely distinctive nunnery and tourist attraction.

Attraction Location

Within Mount Lu, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province