Ganquan Temple

Ganquan Temple

Ganquan Temple is a national AA-level tourist attraction and a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The exact year of Ganquan Temple’s founding is unknown and cannot be verified. Some say it was built during the Song Dynasty, but there is no concrete evidence. Legend has it that a scholar once attained the highest rank in the imperial examinations. Impressed by his appearance and talent, the Tang Emperor arranged for him to marry a princess. To avoid the marriage and escape the royal life, he gave up his status, returned home, and came to this place. Here, nestled against the mountain and near a spring, he built a temple and became a monk. The princess, desperate to find her beloved, also came here. Seeing that he had taken monastic vows, she had no choice but to build a nunnery in front of the temple. Though this story is not recorded in writing and remains unverified, the thousand-year-old ginkgo tree still standing in the temple today is evidence of its long history.

Ganquan Temple has also endured many hardships throughout history, suffering from wars, lightning strikes, and fires. By around 1949, the temple had largely fallen into ruins, with only broken walls and dilapidated foundations remaining. In 1992, the Kesou Town of Yanzhong District in Zaozhuang City carried out large-scale renovations on Ganquan Temple. The rebuilt Mahavira Hall features exquisitely carved beams and painted rafters, exuding an ancient charm. The surrounding corridors on the east and west sides are similarly classic in style, and the winding courtyard walls add to the temple’s quaint elegance. Inside the Mahavira Hall, the Buddha sits in the center, flanked by the Eighteen Arhats on both sides, each with unique and vivid expressions. Below the steps in front of the Mahavira Hall lies a liberation pond, into which the sweet spring water (from which the temple gets its name) flows, originating from under the ginkgo tree in the northwest corner of the temple. Fish swim playfully in the pond, adding vitality to the serene surroundings.

In April 1996, Ganquan Temple was officially approved as a legitimate site for Buddhist activities. For this purpose, the Shandong Buddhist Association assigned Venerable Jichang, an 88-year-old eminent monk from Qianfo Mountain in Jinan, to reside at the temple as its abbot. Since then, the temple’s incense offerings have flourished, providing a lawful place of worship for over 300 lay Buddhists in Zaozhuang. Through the joint efforts of Venerable Jichang, five monks, and many lay followers, a new Heavenly King Hall has been constructed in front of the liberation pond. Corridors on the east and west sides were also built, connecting to the side halls, along with a dining hall to accommodate the monks and lay practitioners. Nowadays, Venerable Jichang frequently travels between Ganquan Temple and Qianfo Mountain in Jinan to engage in Buddhist activities. Daily affairs at the temple are managed by Venerable Xinhao.