Jiaxiang Qingshan Temple

Jiaxiang Qingshan Temple

Qingshan Temple in Jiaxiang is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Qingshan Temple is located on the lush-green western side of Qingshan Mountain, 8.2 kilometers south of Jiaxiang County. It is an ancient architectural complex centered around the Huiji Gong Temple, covering an area of approximately 6,000 square meters. The Huiji Gong Temple was originally named Jiao Wang Ci. According to the old Jiaxiang County Annals, “During the Wu period in the south, descendants of Shennong were enfeoffed in Jiao, and were commonly known as the Jiao King.” The initially enfeoffed Jiao was in Hongnong Shanzhou (now Shanzhou District, Sanmenxia City, Henan Province), and after receiving the title, the capital was moved to the foot of the eastern side of Qingshan Mountain in Jiaxiang. Today, there are Dongjiaocheng Village and Xijiaocheng Village to the east of Qingshan Mountain, where ruins of the ancient Jiao King’s city can still be found.

The original construction date of the Jiao Wang Ci is unknown. According to the “Record of the Reconstruction of the Huiji Gong Temple” by Zhao Hengzheng, a professor from Dongchang in the Yuan Dynasty, “To the left of the temple stands a stele from the first year of the Jianning era of the Han Dynasty (168 AD), which has been destroyed and its origins are untraceable; to the right stands a stele from the Yong’an era of the Jin Dynasty, though the inscriptions are worn and difficult to discern…” In 1102 (the first year of the Chongning era of the Song Dynasty), Jiao Wang was granted the title of Ningying Hou; in 1121 (the third year of the Xuanhe era of the Song Dynasty), he was renamed Huiji Gong; the following year, the Jiao Wang Ci was rebuilt and renamed Huiji Gong Temple. After multiple renovations and expansions during the Ming and Qing dynasties, it finally took on its current scale. Since the temple is located on Qingshan Mountain, it is commonly referred to by the public as Qingshan Temple.

Qingshan Temple faces west and is built along the contour of the mountain, rising layer by layer with ingenious design and a unique style. Majestic pavilions and towers are nestled among ancient trees and cypresses, creating a spectacular scene. Viewed from the foot of the mountain, there are six levels of structures along the central axis: the Taishan Xinggong Archway, the Three Gates, the Huiji Gong Main Hall, the Bedroom Hall, the Taishan Xinggong, and the Jade Emperor Temple. On both sides of the Huiji Gong Main Hall, there are auxiliary structures such as the White Jade Palace, the Offering Hall, the Mother-and-Son Hall, the Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion, and the Guest Reception Hall of the Guan Yu Temple.

The Taishan Xinggong Archway is located at the foot of Qingshan Mountain. It was built in 1638 (the 11th year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty) by Zhu Shouyong, the hereditary Prince of Lu, and is a three-gate stone structure modeled after a pavilion-style building. The four stone lions carved on both the inner and outer sides of the central gate are exquisitely detailed and vividly shaped. The gate’s exterior is inscribed with “Taishan Xinggong,” while the interior reads “Yunlin Shengkai,” both written in bold, powerful strokes. The side gates are adorned with carvings of floating dragons and qilin, demonstrating skilled craftsmanship and lifelike representation. The entire archway roof mimics wooden architectural styles, featuring stone-carved brackets, hip-and-gable roofs, chiwen ornaments, tile ridges, and tile ends… Notably, the relief sculpture on the central gate’s lintel depicting “The Prince of Lu Visiting the Jiao King” vividly portrays the expressions of the main figures, guests, and attendants, making them appear remarkably lifelike. The entire archway is a harmonious and masterfully crafted work of art, possessing significant artistic value. To the east of the Taishan Xinggong Archway lies a mountain path leading directly to the Three Gates. The Three Gates serve as the main entrance to the Huiji Gong Temple and were rebuilt in 990 AD (the first year of the Chunhua era of the Northern Song Dynasty) in a gray-tiled flush-gable style. The central gate consists of three bays, with one bay on each side for the side passages.

The Huiji Gong Main Hall is the principal structure of Qingshan Temple. It is built upon a 1-meter-high stone platform and underwent two major renovations in 1334 (the third year of the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty) and 1389 (the 22nd year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty). The hall is five bays wide, 17.3 meters long from north to south, 6 meters wide from east to west, and about 9 meters high. It features a hip-and-gable roof with five ridges, painted brackets, green tiles, and an imposing, majestic appearance. The front eaves are supported by four tall stone columns, all intricately carved with floral designs. Inside the hall, beams and walls are richly decorated with carvings and murals. The high red-lacquered carved shrine once housed a golden statue of Huiji Gong, standing 2.5 meters tall. In front of the hall stands a dragon-head stele built in 1929. An octagonal Jade Liquid Pool is laid out in front of the stele, with a diameter of 3 meters and surrounded by stone railings.

Behind the main hall lies a mountain spring named “Ganying Spring.” The spring water flows through a hidden passage beneath the hall and gushes out from the dragon’s mouth at the base of the stele, flowing continuously all year round like pearls and jade, cascading into the Jade Liquid Pool. The pool never overflows even after prolonged rain, nor dries up during droughts. Its water remains clear and azure, offering visibility to the bottom. The spring and pool are separated from the hall, and if not observed carefully, many visitors may not realize where the spring water comes from or where the pool water goes. This magical sight is both a product of nature and the ingenuity of the builders. On both sides of the exquisitely carved dragon-head stele are inscribed couplets: “Misty mountain hues mark an earthly paradise; murmuring waters echo a celestial cave.” On the north side of the stele is engraved a poem titled “Eighteen Joys of Qingshan” by Wang Junqing, a late Qing Dynasty scholar. Flanking the main hall are five-bay side halls, together with the Three Gates, enclosing a small courtyard. Though compact, the courtyard is quaint and elegant, dotted with standing steles, murmuring springs, sturdy pines, and towering cypresses. Its unique scenery captivates visitors, making them linger and forget to leave.

Other attractions within the temple include:

The White Jade Palace, located to the right of the Three Gates, is a single-story, two-level pavilion dedicated to Bai Niangzi from the Legend of the White Snake. It was built in the late Qing Dynasty.

The Mother-and-Son Hall, also known as Grandma Hall, is situated to the north of the Huiji Gong Main Hall. Built in 1598 (the 26th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty), it is a three-bay flush-gable style structure dedicated to the Goddess of Childbirth.

The Guest Reception Hall is located in the south courtyard of the Huiji Gong Main Hall. It is a four-bay hall-style building. The front of the hall is adorned with orchids and bamboo, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere. It served as the residence for the abbot in the past and as a resting place for visiting monks and refined guests.

The Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion is located to the east of the Guest Reception Hall. It is a three-bay, two-level flush-gable style pavilion housing numerous Buddha statues.

The Guan Yu Temple is located to the north of the Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion. It is a three-bay flush-gable style structure dedicated to Guan Yu of the Three Kingdoms period.

The Bedroom Hall can be reached by passing through the Huiji Gong Main Hall, circling around Ganying Spring, and ascending the stone steps on either side. The three-bay Bedroom Hall is built atop a cliff higher than the main hall and houses statues of Huiji Gong and his two wives.

The Jade Emperor Temple is built atop the highest peak of Qingshan Mountain, featuring ornate brackets and upturned eaves. The temple is dedicated to the Jade Emperor. Viewed from the foot of the mountain, it appears to hover above the treetops amid swirling mist.

Qingshan Mountain stretches several miles from north to south. In addition to Qingshan Temple, it is also home to ancient temples such as Fayun Temple and Pixing Temple. The mountain is covered with lush ancient trees numbering in the tens of thousands, along with numerous fruit orchards that fill the air with fragrant blossoms in spring and the aroma of ripe fruits in autumn. Truly, the mountain is not high but beautiful, and the forest not deep but serene.

Zhifang Town: Located 30 kilometers southwest of Jining City, Zhifang Town covers a total area of 96 square kilometers. It governs 51 administrative villages, with 19,000 households, a population of 83,000, and arable land spanning 68,000 mu. It is bordered by the Rihé Expressway to the north, traversed by the Xinshi Railway from east to west, and intersected by the provincial Ji-Jin Road running from north to south. Jining Airport is also located within its jurisdiction. The town is conveniently accessible via land, water, and air routes, with the Zhuoshui River, Zhuozhao New River, and Cai River crossing it from north to south. The area boasts abundant natural and tourism resources, including 48 hills—forming the only small hill cluster in southwestern Shandong—and national first-class cultural relics hailed as “world artistic treasures”… More details about Zhifang Town ++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· First Batch of Jining Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units