Ruins of Faxing Temple

Ruins of Faxing Temple

The ruins of Faxing Temple are a protected cultural heritage site of Shandong Province.

The ruins of Faxing Temple are located on Mount Liang in Liangshan County. Dating back to the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties, the site — including the Lotus Pedestal Stone Carvings, the Tomb Pagoda of Master Donglu Xizhu, and the Hall of Ritual Inquiry — was designated as part of the third batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units of Shandong Province on December 7, 2006.

Historical records state that Faxing Temple was originally established by a high-ranking monk during the Tang Dynasty, situated at Shili Xinghua Village at the eastern foot of Mount Liang. Having endured centuries of natural disasters and war, the site still preserves several stone steles from the Ming and Qing dynasties, the seven-tiered tomb pagoda of Master Xizhu, and the remaining foundations of the Mahavira Hall of Faxing Temple. Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu Zetian visited the temple twice during their pilgrimages to Mount Tai, greatly enhancing its fame. During the Ming Dynasty, the warrior monk Master Xizhu led three thousand monk-soldiers to fight Japanese pirates in Jiaodong, achieving notable patriotic feats. He later served as abbot of Faxing Temple, promoting Buddhism and becoming a revered master, which further spread the temple’s renown. Emperors Yongzheng and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty visited Faxing Temple multiple times, overseeing renovations of the main hall, and several dragon-carved steles remain well-preserved to this day. The "Shouzhang County Annals" contain a poem praising the temple: “A hidden realm within the hills, where temple halls faintly appear; shrines do not face west, yet radiant light reflects upon Buddha’s face.” As the sun sets and daylight fades, only Faxing Temple remains bathed in lingering glow, creating the celebrated scene known as “Faxing Sunset.” Together with the Lotus Pedestal and Sweet Spring in the Stone Well, it forms one of the “Eight Ancient Scenic Spots of Shouzhang,” showcasing the temple’s remarkable beauty.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units of Shandong Province

· Third Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units of Jining City