Shouguang Cihua Temple

Shouguang Cihua Temple

Shouguang Cihua Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Wanggao Village was once widely known for the presence of the ancient Wanggao Pagoda and Cihua Temple to the east of the village.

The Wanggao Pagoda is located within Cihua Temple—Cihua Temple was built first, followed by the Wanggao Pagoda. The pagoda is a Buddhist stupa within Cihua Temple, named for its location on the eastern side of Wanggao Village. The temple has long since vanished without a trace, and there are various legends about when it was built. According to the county annals from the Republican era, there were two ancient steles in front of the pagoda. One stele bore the inscription “Da Wei Rebuilt Cihua Temple Stele” on its top. From this, it can be inferred that the temple was likely built during the Jin Dynasty or even earlier. Elders from Wanggao also recalled that another stele in front of the pagoda had the inscription “Rebuilt in the Jin Dading Era” on its top and the signature “County Magistrate Zang Bulu Hua” at the bottom, though other characters were illegible.

It is said that Cihua Temple was grand in scale, covering dozens of acres with dozens of halls, several main worship buildings, numerous side rooms, and nearly a hundred monks. The architecture was majestic and magnificent, attracting worshippers from far and wide. Incense burned year-round, especially during the annual temple fair on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month (traditionally believed to be the birthday of Sakyamuni Buddha). Pilgrims and tourists from surrounding villages, as well as from places like Weixian and Guangrao, flocked to the fair, making it extraordinarily lively. During these times, opera troupes were invited to perform for five days, with daily performances accompanied by stilt-walking, lion dances, magic shows, acrobatics, and street singers. Calls and hawking filled the air, making it the most influential temple fair in Shouguang at the time.

The towering ancient pagoda and gleaming silver spire endured the passage of time, witnessing the diversion of the Mi River eastward and the changes of the world. In those years, the thousand-year-old temple was labeled as part of the “Four Olds,” and with several loud explosions and clouds of dust, it was leveled to the ground, fading from public view. Only a few remaining photos faintly hint at its former glory. During our interviews, we learned that villagers deeply lamented the loss of the Wanggao Pagoda, and their desire to see it rebuilt was unmistakable. Fortunately, the reconstruction of the Wanggao Pagoda was included in the city’s 2009 work priorities, and a leadership group for the restoration and reconstruction of the Wanggao Pagoda was established. We sincerely hope that with strong support from the municipal government and the joint efforts of all sectors of society, the thousand-year-old pagoda will regain its splendor and become another shining jewel in the beautiful tourist city of Shouguang.

Source: Buddhist Navigation