Zibo Jinshan Temple

Zibo Jinshan Temple

Zibo Jinshan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Jinshan Temple is located on the southern bank of the Yueyang River on Mount Jinshan in Shitanwu, Badu Town, Boshan District, Zibo City. Legend has it that it was built during the Northern Wei Dynasty, expanded during the Tang and Song Dynasties, and underwent minor renovations during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, covering an area of over 20 acres. The entire temple complex faces south and consists of five courtyards.

Buddha Hall

Dozens of steps lead up to the mountain gate, which hangs a wooden plaque inscribed with the golden characters “Jinshan Temple.” On either side are statues of the Four Heavenly Kings. Facing the gate is the Buddha Hall, situated on a 1-meter-high platform, standing 5 meters tall, 8 meters wide, and 12 meters long. Above the hall’s door hangs a wooden plaque with white background and blue characters, inscribed with the four large characters “Tianzhu Zhenyin” (True Seal of India). Inside the hall, at the center, is a statue of Sakyamuni, flanked by Manjushri and Samantabhadra, with eighteen arhats arranged from east to west, all carved from ginkgo wood.

On the back wall of the Buddha Hall is a statue of the Reversed Guanyin, while the Ao Mountain above is painted with the story of Tang Seng’s journey to retrieve Buddhist scriptures. On the east and west sides are side halls: the three-room eastern hall is the Three Officials Hall, housing seated statues of Guan Yu, Hai Rui, and Bao Zheng. The three-room western hall houses a seated statue of Bodhidharma.

East Courtyard

The east courtyard features three rooms of Taoist lodgings to the south, serving as the residence of the abbot. To the east are three rooms of the official hall, used as a meeting place for benefactors. At the north end of the official hall is one room that houses a seated statue of the Ming Dynasty monk Chengzhen, the Venerable Master. During his lifetime, Chengzhen often treated people’s illnesses and left behind many folk remedies after his death. On both sides of the shrine are couplets written by Bi Dekai, a scholar from Jinqiao Village:

"The mountain is not high, but gains fame because of the immortal; the immortal is none other than a skilled physician. Form is emptiness, starting with the monk; the monk ultimately becomes the Buddha."

West Courtyard

The west courtyard serves as an academy, with four single-story rooms to the north and a square pond in the center of the yard.

Middle Courtyard

The middle courtyard features three rooms to the north as the Yama Hall, housing statues of the Ten Yama Kings seated, with depictions of ox-headed and horse-faced guardians painted on the hall’s walls. The couplet on the hall’s door reads:

"Yin and yang follow one principle; the laws of fate are hard to escape. The boundary between humans and ghosts is singular; every detail is accounted for."

North Courtyard

The main structure of the north courtyard is the Granny Shelter, where every year on the first day of the lunar month of Mu, Lady Yan Wenjiang, the Filial Widow, is welcomed to rest during the summer. To the north of the courtyard is a mountain gate, which serves as the back entrance to Jinshan Temple. On both sides of the gate are couplets written by Zheng Yushu, a teacher from Xiangyang Village:

"If you do not respect your parents, do not enter the temple. If you come to the hall just to take incense, you shouldn't."

Others

Outside the mountain gate, there are over 30 stone steps leading directly down to the beach of the Yueyang River. In addition, there are bell and drum towers and over 30 various halls and chambers. Beyond the mountain gate of Jinshan Temple lies the monks’ forest, covering over 10 acres, serving as the burial ground for deceased monks, scattered with a few pagoda stupas. Historical Background of Jinshan Temple — Originally, there were over 10 ancient locust, pine, and cypress trees within and around Jinshan Temple, each with a diameter of over one meter. Among them was a Han Dynasty cypress that existed before the temple was built. Unfortunately, by 1966, the trees had been completely cut down, the halls vanished, and the original site was rebuilt as Shitanwu Primary School. Jinshan Temple Temple Fair — Jinshan Temple hosts two temple fairs each year: one on the first day of the fourth lunar month to honor the Venerable Master Chengzhen, and another on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month for the Buddha.

Badu Town: Badu Town is located 15 kilometers southeast of Boshan District, Zibo City. It is a key industrial town and important transportation hub in the suburbs of Boshan District, and one of the top 100 towns in Shandong Province. In 2005, it ranked 16th in comprehensive economic strength among all cities in the region. The town administers 17 administrative villages and 22 neighborhood committees, covering a total area of 36.94 square kilometers with a population of 41,000. It has successively been awarded honors such as National Export Base Town, Provincial Civilized Town, Provincial Advanced Town for Safety Initiatives, Municipal Economic Powerhouse Town, Municipal Star Town for Township Enterprise Development, and Municipal “Five-Good” Party Committee of the Town.

In 2005, … More details about Badu Town ++