Wuning Mituo Temple

Wuning Mituo Temple

Wuning Mituo Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Wuning Yangzhou Phoenix Mountain Mituo Temple is said to have been established in the late Han Dynasty. According to legend, a recluse observed the lush and auspicious aura of the mountain and built a thatched hut to live in seclusion, awaiting the right opportunity (as recorded in the "Long-Lasting Lamp Assembly Stele of Xigua Temple"). Noticing that the area closely resembled two phoenixes facing the rising sun, he named it "Phoenix Mountain." In the early Three Kingdoms period, Sun Zhong, the grandfather of Sun Quan, planted watermelons at Guashamo on Phoenix Mountain, hence the name "Xigua Ancient Temple." After the Tang Dynasty, a revered monk practiced meditation here, and it was named "Vairocana Ridge," later renamed "Phoenix Chanting Zen Forest." In the 41st year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1613), Master Hongnai of the Buddhist sangha, aiming to restore its ancient significance, renamed the temple "Xigua Temple." This name remained until 1985, when the temple’s abbot, Master Chuan Kai (the Dharma great-great-grandson of the contemporary Chan Buddhism patriarch Master Xuyun, and the 51st-generation successor of the Dongyun lineage, who moved from Donglin Temple on Mount Lu to this site in 1961), consulted with Master Chuan Yin, Vice President of the Chinese Buddhist Academy. They invited Zhao Puchu, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and President of the Buddhist Association of China, to inscribe a new name, leading to its renaming as "Mituo Temple."

Phoenix Mountain Mituo Temple is fronted by the spectacular Wuwang Peak (legend has it that the great-grandmother of Sun Quan, the King of Wu during the Three Kingdoms period, is buried at the summit), serving as a natural screen, while the unique Wuning Rock forms its backdrop. To its left lies the Xi Yuan River and to its right the Dong Yuan River, complemented by the presence of Wuning Lake, making it truly a paradise on earth and a celestial scene in the human realm.

The Mituo Temple located on Phoenix Mountain in Yangzhou has become the most attractive tourist destination in our county, thanks to its unique advantages.

First is its superior location. Situated within the Yangzhou Scenic Area, it forms an integrated whole with the Wulingya Gorge Rafting, Wulingya Mountain Villa, Shenwu Mountain Villa, and Wuning Lake. Transportation is very convenient. It is also in close proximity to the ancestral temple of the Pure Land sect, Donglin Temple on Mount Lu, the ancestral temples of the Chan sect such as Yunshan Zhenru Temple and Jiujiang Nengren Temple, making it an ideal choice both temporally and spatially for tourism, as well as economically.

Second is its profound influence. Legend has it that the temple was established in the late Han Dynasty, with its initial construction dating back to the Ming Dynasty. Over the dynasties, it has produced many eminent monks. Especially after the modern renowned Chan Buddhism master Master Chuan Kai, the Dharma great-great-grandson of the great Master Xuyun, revitalized Mituo Temple, it gained high prestige both domestically and internationally. Today, Master Mia’an, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Jiangxi Buddhist Association and current abbot, has further extended its influence among major temples both in China and abroad.

Third is its grand architecture. The mountain gate, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Scripture Depository, Dharma Hall, Abbot’s Quarters, Guest Hall, Dining Hall, Meditation Hall, Buddha Recitation Hall, Skanda Hall, Patriarchs’ Hall, Sangharama Hall, Merit Hall, Western Paradise Hall, Guanyin Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Memorial Hall for Monk Weiyin, Stupa of Monk Weiyin’s Sarira, Liberation Pond, and various facilities are all complete. The overall layout of the architecture is rational, surpassing any other period in history. Particularly, the Mahavira Hall is majestic, splendidly adorned in gold, and highly eye-catching.

Fourth is the solemnity of its sacred statues. The three main Buddha statues inside the hall, each standing 7.8 meters tall, are carved from camphor wood and gilded in pure gold—an extremely rare sight in China. The five hundred arhats display diverse expressions and are strikingly lifelike. There is also a Tang Dynasty bronze statue of Guanyin, a Ming Dynasty wooden statue of Sakyamuni, a modern jade-carved statue of Ksitigarbha, and a white marble statue of Monk Weiyin (1.3 meters tall, weighing approximately 2 tons, one of only three in the world), all of which attract numerous visitors from both China and abroad.

Fifth is its rich collection of scriptures. The Scripture Depository houses two sets of the "Qianlong Canon," one set each of the "Taisho Tripitaka" and "Pingja Tripitaka," as well as the rare treasure "Palm-Leaf Scriptures." Other sutras and Buddhist texts are also abundantly available.

Sixth are its remarkable relics. The stone stele of the "Long-Lasting Lamp Assembly of Xigua Temple," engraved in 1640 (the 13th year of the Ming Dynasty’s Chongzhen reign), is the largest and best-preserved in the county. The Longwang Yinghui Tomb Pagoda from 1748 (the 13th year of the Qianlong reign) features exquisite craftsmanship and ranks first in the county. The Ming Dynasty four-legged incense burner, large bronze chime, and other ritual objects are also unmatched in size. Additionally, newly added artifacts include a 1.3-ton bronze bell, a 1.7-meter-diameter large drum, a 1.2-meter-tall large incense burner, and a 3-meter-tall canopy-covered incense burner, unparalleled in both ancient and modern times. Calligraphy works by the famous calligraphers Zhao Puchu and Shen Peng further enrich Mituo Temple’s deep cultural heritage.

Seventh is its celebrity appeal. Former Vice Premier of the State Council Wu Guixian, President of the Buddhist Association of China Master Yicheng, Vice President of the Chinese Buddhist Academy Master Chuan Yin, former Guangzhou Air Force General Sun Qingli, Liu Hua, and others have all visited the mountain.