Chaoyuan Cave Temple

Chaoyuan Cave Temple

Chaoyuan Cave Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Chaoyuan Cave Temple is located at the northern foot of Jiulong Mountain, 25 kilometers southwest of Anyang. Here, six peaks stand elegantly, with a city-like expanse stretching across, connected pavilions and layered halls bustling with visitors, and it is named “Chaoyuan Cave” for enshrining statues of Confucius, Laozi, and Sakyamuni, the venerable figures of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.

According to inscriptions on stone tablets: Chaoyuan Cave has ancient origins, but regrettably only a few stone tablets remain, and even fewer records of the temple’s history exist. It flourished greatly during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty and was rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty. The temple complex faces south and is built against the mountain, arranged in a well-spaced and harmonious layout.

The temple’s mountain gate faces east, directly overlooking one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Anyang — “Snow Accumulation at the Dragon Gate.” Outside the gate, verdant pines and cypresses drip with lush green, complementing the colorful gate tower. There is an artificial hill with peculiar peaks and strange rocks. Two stone lions, majestic and powerful, stand beside the gate. The three-bay gate tower, also called the Horse Hall, features red pillars, colorful eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters. On each side are sculpted divine horses and horse attendants, along with statues of the four deities representing Time, Sun, Moon, and Year.

Entering the first courtyard, at the southern end is a theater stage built on a high platform of fine stones, supported by square stone pillars under a rolled awning roof structure. At the western end is the Registration Hall, now used as a stage. On the north side is the Guan Yu Hall, rebuilt in the eighth year of the Shunzhi era, simple and unadorned, with an antique charm.

Moving ahead, you reach the second courtyard. On the east and west sides are the Yama Halls, housing statues of the Ten Kings of Hell, seated upright with solemn and stern expressions, coldly overlooking all beings. The murals are hair-raising, depicting scenes such as being boiled in oil, grinding evil ghosts, sawing demons, dismembering by five ghosts, and the Eighteen Levels of Hell. Though the images are eerie and terrifying, their effect in punishing evil and promoting virtue is evident. The central hall is the Zisun Pavilion (Descendants’ Pavilion), housing statues of six bodhisattvas.

In the third courtyard, the east side houses the Vermilion Bird Pavilion, and the west side the Black Tortoise Tower, both built in the 20th year of the Qianlong era. The central hall is the Chaoyuan Cave, featuring an upper hall and a lower cave, constructed against the mountain with a unique style — this is the main structure of the temple. The cave entrance is adorned with a wooden structure featuring upturned eaves, while the cave itself is built from strip stones, over ten feet high and forty feet deep, forming a massive arched tunnel. Inside are statues of Confucius, Laozi, and Sakyamuni — the revered figures of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism — for worshippers to pay homage to, hence the name “Chaoyuan Cave.” This cave was created during the Ming Dynasty, a time when the convergence of the three teachings was prominent. Above the cave are two additional levels of construction: the middle level is the 0 Hall, and the top level is the Jade Emperor Pavilion. With three tiers of flying eaves and a towering pavilion reaching into the clouds, the structure is majestic and is a rare sight in northern Henan. Inside the Jade Emperor Pavilion, a bronze statue of the Jade Emperor, along with bronze statues of the Supreme Deity Tai Bai Jin Xing and Heavenly King Li Jing (the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King), have been placed in recent years. The Jade Emperor statue stands 2.7 meters tall, weighs 3 tons, faces south with its back to the north, appears majestic and solemn, and is adorned in resplendent gold and color.

People often refer to Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism as the Three Teachings. In reality, Confucianism, as a system of thought, stands independently and, in many aspects, possesses characteristics similar to religion, but strictly speaking, it does not possess all the traits of a religion, so it should be referred to as Confucianism.

The founder of Confucianism is Confucius. Confucianism is the most important school of thought among the Hundred Schools of Thought during the pre-Qin period. Since Emperor Wu of Han's policy of "rejecting all other schools and solely respecting Confucianism," the status of Confucian thought has risen sharply. Confucian classics became the foundational content for selecting officials and talent in successive feudal dynasties. Even Chinese Buddhists and Taoists, when beginning their education, had to study Confucian works such as the Analects and the Book of Songs. The core of Confucian thought consists of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, trustworthiness, forgiveness, loyalty, filial piety, and fraternal duty. It is the most influential school in China and the mainstream ideology of ancient China. The Confucian school has had a profound impact on China, East Asia, and even the entire world.

Taoism originated in the early Eastern Han Dynasty, evolving from the Taoist philosophy of the pre-Qin era. Taoism takes “Tao” as the name of its faith, which shows its reverence for the Tao, centering on Tao and Virtue. Taoism believes that humans can attain the Tao and thus acquire Virtue. Taoism reveres Laozi Li Er, the founder of Taoist thought during the Spring and Autumn Period, as its patriarch. The most famous Taoist scripture is Laozi’s Tao Te Ching.

Buddhism, one of the world’s three major religions, was introduced to China from India during the Han Dynasty. Having lasted nearly two thousand years, it is the earliest introduced, most widely spread, and longest enduring foreign religion in China.

Sakyamuni is the founder of Buddhism. The fundamental doctrines of Buddhism include the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. The Four Noble Truths are four truths: the first is the Truth of Suffering, explaining that all experiences in life — birth, aging, sickness, and death — are suffering; the second is the Truth of the Cause of Suffering, explaining that the cause of all suffering lies in desire; the third is the Truth of the Cessation of Suffering, explaining that one must eliminate all desires to reach the state of Nirvana, a deathless and unconditioned realm, in order to end suffering and its consequences; the fourth is the Truth of the Path, which teaches that one must follow the path to attain Nirvana and realize the highest ideal of the Buddha. The Eightfold Path mainly describes the eight methods and approaches people should follow to achieve the highest ideal of Buddhism. The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination form the foundation of Buddhist cosmology and religious practice.

On both sides of Chaoyuan Cave, there are steep stone staircases leading to the higher rear courtyard, known as 0 Summit. On the north side of the rear courtyard is the Bixia Hall, housing bronze statues of the Goddess Bixia Yuanjun and young attendants, adding splendor to the hall. On the east side of the courtyard, a hanging corridor is built, with red pillars, gray tiles, and painted eave decorations. Leaning on the railing, one can gaze into the distance, taking in both distant waters and nearby mountains, feeling as if floating above the earth, as though ascending to immortality.

In recent years, a Dragon Palace has been opened inside Chaoyuan Cave, stretching approximately 150 meters, winding and twisting with changing scenery at every step. The cave walls are painted with mythological stories, and Buddhist shrines house 24 statues of Dragon Kings. Modern technologies such as sound, light, and electricity have been employed to create electrified attractions such as “Snow Accumulation at Dragon Mountain,” “Golden Ox Turning the Mill,” “Dragon Palace Dance and Music,” “Stealing the Sea-Pacifying Needle,” “Thunder God and Lightning Goddess,” and “King Wen’s Eight Trigrams,” offering visitors a unique experience blending ancient mystery with modern innovation. “Snow Accumulation at Dragon Mountain” condenses the entire scenery of Dragon Mountain into one scene, while “Golden Ox Turning the Mill” brings the legends of Dragon Mountain to life. In the “Dragon Palace Dance and Music” scene, the Dragon King sits enthroned while nine fairies stand quietly below the pool. When activated, music begins, accompanied by instrumental performance and dancing. The “Thunder God and Lightning Goddess” scene, when triggered, instantly brings the sounds of thunder, rolling dark clouds, and fierce winds, creating a truly immersive experience.

Behind the temple, there is a uniquely peculiar rock. When struck with a stone, it emits the sound of a rooster crowing, resembling “a golden rooster announcing (or crowing) a title,” making it a remarkable natural landscape.

Jiulong Mountain gets its name from its shape, resembling nine dragons encircling and guarding the area. From the mountaintop of Jiulong Mountain, one can view Chaoyuan Cave, which embodies the elegance of ancient architecture — with upturned eaves, ornamental ridges, five ridges and six beasts, glazed tiles, and precious roof ornaments — while also integrating modern innovative styles, featuring an upper hall and a lower cave, with internal and external circulation. One can admire the delicate beauty of the sacred halls and explore the serene scenery of the dragon caves.

The incense here burns year-round without ceasing. Devotees from nearby villages come here to worship and make wishes, which is also a way of praying for a better life.