Qingyunpu Taoist Temple

Qingyunpu Taoist Temple

Qingyunpu Taoist Temple is situated by Meihu Lake and Dingshan Bridge in Nanchang, Jiangxi. It is an ancient architectural complex constructed according to Taoist norms, embodying features of Jiangxi folk housing and Ming-Qing architectural styles. The layout is based on a north-south enclosed central axis and a progressive arrangement of courtyard complexes. The main buildings consist of the Guan Di Hall, Lü Zu Hall, and Xu Zu Hall, all designed with either four-pillar eight-rafter beams or five-pillar nine-rafter beams. The three halls are interspersed with interior courtyards.

Legend has it that Prince Jin, son of King Ling of Zhou, once established his alchemy practice here and eventually ascended to immortality. During the Western Han Dynasty, Mei Fu, the magistrate of Nanchang County, resigned from office and lived in seclusion here, after which the Mei Xian Shrine was built. In the fourth year of the Daxing era under Emperor Yuan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Xu Zhenjun secluded himself at the former site of the Mei Xian Shrine in the southern suburbs of Nanchang, founding the Taoist temple and renaming it “Taiji Guan” (Taiji Observatory), with the plaque reading “Jingming Zhenjing” (Pure Bright True Realm). Zhu Da, the renowned painter of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties also known as Bada Shanren, once lived here in seclusion, dedicating himself to painting and calligraphy, and eventually became a master celebrated in the art world.

To the east of the Lü Zu Hall lies a small courtyard, which was once the resting place of Bada Shanren. On the east and west sides of the Xu Zu Hall are the Doumu Pavilion and the San Guan Hall respectively. According to local elders, although the Qingyunpu Taoist site was not large in scale, it owned substantial temple lands. Much of the grain harvested was supplied to larger Taoist centers such as the Xishan Wanshou Palace and Tiezhu Wanshou Palace, while the incense oil offerings from those sites were allocated to Qingyunpu, creating a mutual exchange.

Source: Daoism Voice