Huangshi An

Huangshi An

Huangshi An is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

Located 24 kilometers from Taiping Town in Xixia County, Henan Province, at the foot of Huashu Pan Mountain, Huangshi An is a thousand-year-old ancient temple with a long-standing reputation. "The boundless Way of Chaos permeates the essence of heaven and earth in a single pot; the profound Scripture of the Mysterious God reveals the sacred hearts of the Three Teachings."

Huangshi An is situated at the southern foot of Laojun Mountain, surrounded by undulating peaks and picturesque landscapes, with accessible roads and a pleasant climate. It neighbors major scenic spots of the Laojie Ridge. To the east, it faces the Xixin Temple; to the west, it stands opposite the Huilong Temple; to the south, it borders the Shuaihai Pass and the Funiu Mountain Grand Canyon; and to the north, it lies adjacent to Laojun Mountain and Laojie Ridge, making it an exceptionally blessed location. Today, Huangshi An is thriving, with ceaseless incense burning and devout pilgrims from all directions coming to worship and donate, leading to continuous expansion of the temple complex. As such, it serves as an ideal site for the propagation of Buddhist and Taoist teachings.

Legend has it that Huangshi An Temple was where the Yellow Stone Sage studied the *Art of War by Taigong*. He built a simple hut here, accompanied by fresh winds and clear springs, subsisting on wild fruits and vegetables. A white crane stood guard in front of the hut, a fierce tiger behind, and a golden python coiled inside. With unwavering focus, the Yellow Stone Sage vividly interpreted the *Art of War by Taigong*, skillfully deploying the Eight Trigrams and Five Elements in military formations. After leaving the hut to travel, he encountered Zhang Liang, who had come from Qin. Recognizing Zhang’s exceptional talent, the sage passed on the military treatise, which later aided Liu Bang in founding the Han Dynasty. When Empress Lü seized power and Han Xin was executed, Zhang Liang, a founding hero and Duke of Liu, grew weary of court politics and retired to the Yellow Stone Hut. He dismantled the thatched shack and built a temple, where he lived in seclusion and practiced cultivation—thus, Huangshi An has endured to this day.

Having weathered a thousand years of turmoil, cycles of prosperity and decline, and multiple restorations, Huangshi An Temple has been preserved and designated as a Buddhist practice site by the state, welcoming worshippers from all walks of life. Over the ages, it has left behind many historical anecdotes. The famed calligrapher Wang Xizhi inscribed the plaque "Taihe Yuanqi" (Supreme Harmony and Vital Energy), which hangs in front of the Laojun Hall. In 1994, Zhao Puchu, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and President of the Buddhist Association of China, personally wrote the characters "Huangshi An," which were hung at the temple’s entrance. On June 8, 2006, the Henan Provincial Government designated it as a key cultural relic protection unit, covering an area of approximately 10,000 square meters. In 2015, plans for expanding the temple facilities, including about 35 acres of land for pilgrim services and over 50 acres on the hillside for pagodas and viewing pavilions, were submitted for approval to enhance Buddhist and Taoist promotion, pilgrim services, and local tourism.

Current structures of the temple include: The front hall, which enshrines the Maitreya Buddha and the Four Heavenly Kings, with a drum hanging on the right and a bell on the left under the rear eaves, marking the daily rhythm of morning bells and evening drums. At the center of the courtyard is the Mahavira Hall, the main part of the temple, housing the Sakyamuni Buddha. The courtyard features five pine and cypress trees over 300 years old. Notably, the left rear wall of the main hall has partially collapsed, with earthen bricks and debris piled at the base. To restore the structure and protect the cultural relic, a report was submitted to the county cultural relics management office, and provincial funds were allocated for repairs, which commenced on September 13, 2015—marking the first phase of the temple’s restoration and expansion project. To the right of the courtyard is the Guanyin Hall, a three-room brick-and-tile structure built in the late Qing Dynasty. To the left is the Ksitigarbha Hall, a four-room brick-and-tile structure. Further south, the final courtyard contains 12 rooms, housing the project management office and temple design studio. The main hall enshrines the Supreme Old Lord (Laozi), who transformed into the Three Pure Ones, spreading divine power across the land.

Source: Official website of Huangshi An Temple

Further reading:

· Fourth Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units