Tomb of Tongman Temple

Tomb of Tongman Temple

The Tomb of Tongman Temple is a cultural heritage site protected at the municipal level in Zhoukou.

The Tomb of Tongman Temple is located between Houchen Administrative Village and Huangzhuang Administrative Village at the northwest corner of Machang Town, about 13 kilometers southeast of Taikang County. It stretches 266 meters from east to west and 139 meters from north to south. In 2006, it was designated as a municipal-level cultural heritage site by the People's Government of Zhoukou City.

Tongman Temple was first built during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty and has undergone continuous renovations throughout the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The temple faces south with its back to the north and includes the Four Heavenly Kings Hall, Maitreya Buddha Hall, Mahavira Hall, Scripture Depository, and a Liberation Pond. There are dozens of corridor rooms on the east and west sides as well as monk quarters, covering a total area of over 100 acres. The temple grounds are shaded by lush pines and cypresses, enclosed by walls, with bell towers at each of the four corners. Opposite the main gate to the south stands a tall pavilion. The walls are red and the roof tiles yellow, with upturned eaves that seem to soar. Inside the halls, golden statues of Buddhas sit serenely on lotus thrones, vivid and lifelike. Dozens of resident monks served the temple, and believers from all directions came in an endless stream to offer incense and worship.

By the early years of the Republic of China, due to warlord conflicts, Tongman Temple was destroyed in the chaos, leaving only a desolate mound. Within the mound are five wells. According to villagers, many stone tablets were buried underground, and two seals— one featuring a dragon coil design and the other bearing the imprint of Sakyamuni Buddha— were scattered among the people. During the Cultural Revolution, the Houchen and Huangzhuang production brigades built an elementary school on the mound. In 1993, three local residents spontaneously donated funds to construct a Buddhist hall at the northwest corner of the mound, along with east and west corridor rooms and a gatehouse, totaling 22 rooms. The reconstruction of the temple holds significant historical importance for promoting and preserving national cultural heritage.

Source: Office of the Taikang County Government  Author: Liu Xiaogang