Mancheng Moonbright Temple

Mancheng Moonbright Temple

Moonbright Temple in Mancheng is a cultural tourism attraction.

Moonbright Temple is located in Gangtou Village, Daceying Town, Mancheng County. Originally built in the mid-Tang Dynasty, it is a historic temple with a long-standing reputation, known for producing eminent monks and enjoying fame both at home and abroad. The remaining Twin Pagodas of Buddhist Sarira stand as historical testimonies. The enduring legends associated with Moonbright Temple, such as "Guanyin Delivering Grain," "Kṣitigarbha Offering Water," "Drawing Water with a Bamboo Basket," "Zhang Rou Attaining Enlightenment,"… have been passed down through generations.

Gangtou Village was once a watery land, a land of fish and rice, blessed with extraordinary people and a simple, honest folk culture. To the north lies the Taihang Mountain range, stretching for thousands of miles, with gurgling springs and rustling pine waves. One day, a wandering monk from the southern regions passed through these woods. As night fell, he stayed overnight in the pine forest. In the deep silence of his meditation, he was enveloped by a fragrant scent. Opening his eyes slightly, he saw a bright, full moon hanging in the sky not far away, bathing the world in radiant light, with colorful clouds drifting and the sound of a zither drifting through the air. The Bodhisattva Guanyin was seated cross-legged on a lotus, and the wondrous fragrance originated from the lotus, wafting with the wind. The wandering monk pressed his palms together and bowed in reverence. Guanyin smiled but said nothing, and soon the sacred image disappeared. The next morning, the monk awoke to find a fierce tiger standing guard beside him. The tiger nodded at the monk and then retreated into the mountains.

Half a year later, the wandering monk returned with official documents to build a temple here, naming it Moonbright Temple. It originally had three archways, with a mountain gate in the center. Upon entering, there were three courtyards. The first courtyard housed the Hall of Heavenly Kings; the second contained the Guanyin Hall and Maitreya Pavilion; and the rear was the Mahavira Hall. At the center of the hall stood statues of the Three Saints of Huayan, with Samantabhadra Bodhisattva on the right, holding a blue lotus and riding a six-tusked white elephant, and Manjushri Bodhisattva on the left, carrying a wish-fulfilling jewel and seated atop a blue lion. In the center was the Buddha Shakyamuni, depicted in a golden form sixteen feet tall, sitting in the lotus position.

In 1428 during the Ming Dynasty, Moonbright Temple underwent a comprehensive renovation. The Mahavira Hall, after being repaired, exuded a majestic and towering presence, with upturned eaves and flying rafters, appearing particularly grand and solemn. The beams, pillars, doors, windows, corners, and brackets of the hall were all made from premium woods such as pine, cypress, sandalwood, and pagoda tree. The roof was covered with glazed tiles, with decorations in the middle featuring patterns such as two flying phoenixes and an upside-down mythical fish. Above, twelve coiling dragons, their bodies arched as if soaring swiftly, competed for a central precious pearl.

During the fifty-fifth year of the Qing Dynasty, Moonbright Temple was fully renovated. Although the newly renovated Mahavira Hall was not as extravagant and magnificent as it had been during the Ming Dynasty, it remained highly dignified. The temple had over seventy monks and approximately a hundred acres of cultivated land under its management. There were five departments, each with its own duties: the Meditation Hall, where monks practiced seated meditation; the Guest Hall, which managed the daily affairs of the temple, handled external communications, and coordinated the administrative work of the various departments; the Treasury, which oversaw the necessities for the monks’ lives and Buddhist ceremonies; the Monks’ Quarters, which managed the dining hall and kitchen; and the Robe and Alms Bowl Office, which served as the administrative body led by the abbot.

The Twin Pagodas of Moonbright Temple are relics left from the Tang Dynasty temple, which no longer exists, leaving only these two sarira pagodas. The pagodas are constructed of brick and have a conical shape. The two pagodas were built during the Hongzhi and Chenghua periods of the Ming Dynasty, respectively, and are over 600 years old. According to legend, Tibetan eminent monks were buried within the pagodas.

The twin pagodas also feature the more traditional stupa-style body. This ancient pagoda style, originating from India’s stupa, is also known as a Lama pagoda. It is quite rare to see twin stupa-style pagodas side by side. In Hebei Province, there are several such double pagodas: the Shuangta Pagodas of Yunmeng Mountain in Yixian County, the Shuangta Mountain Pagodas in Chengde, the Zhuozhou Shuangta, the Xixu Shuangta in She County, and the Moonbright Temple Shuangta in Mancheng.

Transportation Guide

Scenic Area Address: Gangtou Village, Daceying Town, Mancheng County, Baoding City, Hebei Province

By Bus: Take a bus from Mancheng County to Shenxing Town, then transfer to a minibus to Moonbright Temple.