Zhennan Bodhi Temple

Zhennan Bodhi Temple

Zhennan Bodhi Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

Bodhi Temple is located in Laozhuang Town, Zhenping County. Originally built during the Tang Dynasty, it was constructed under the supervision of the eminent monk Zhu Zhiqin during the Yonghui era (650–655 AD) of Emperor Gaozong of Tang. Over the dynasties, it experienced periods of prosperity and decline. As one of the Eight Famous Temples of the Central Plains and the only garden-style temple in Henan Province, it boasts a history of over 1,300 years, and shares fame with Kaifeng’s Shangqing Temple, Luoyang’s White Horse Temple, and Songshan’s Shaolin Temple.

During the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, the abbot from Xiangyang cleared the land, expanded the teachings, and established the temple in this mountainous area. Nestled amidst rolling hills and flowing waters, the temple complex consists of four courtyards built along the contours of the land, ascending from low to high in a terraced arrangement, and tucked among dense groves of trees and ancient vegetation. The main gate opens to the left, framed by ancient, gnarled trees. The central axis features key structures including the Two Buddhas Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the Dharma Hall, and the Scripture Depository. Flanking these are the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Guest Hall, Dining Hall, storerooms, meditation rooms, and monastic quarters. The Mahavira Hall features a single-eave flush gable roof and exudes grandeur. Its lintels, inner beams, and rafters are adorned with colorful paintings. In contrast, the Dharma Hall pillars are left unpainted, with its caisson ceiling decorated in deep, richly toned patterns. The eastern and western walls once displayed painted clay sculptures of the Five Hundred Arhats, rendered in grayish-brown hues that evoke a sense of serenity and void. The Scripture Depository has a double-eave hip-and-gable roof, with painted brackets, balancing splendor with an air of classical simplicity. The surrounding buildings are symmetrically arranged and also noted for their restrained elegance. Various rare flowers and plants are cultivated around the halls, meditation rooms, monks’ quarters, and the depository—ancient osmanthus, hibiscus, magnolia, crabapple, loquat, plum, and banana trees all contribute their distinctive charm. Behind the temple, in the mountain hollow, spring water flows through channels into the courtyard, bringing a refreshing coolness. Treasures housed within the temple, such as palm-leaf scriptures, Burmese Buddha statues, and paintings attributed to Wu Daozi, hold significant historical and artistic value. A steel-and-stone stele laid flat in front of the hall emits a bell-like chime when struck, while the snow-melting stone causes snow to vanish upon contact—both regarded as sacred treasures of the temple. The surrounding Bodhi Temple Forest Park features undulating mountains, pristine vegetation, and is home to 1,350 plant species and 300 animal species, earning it the reputation of a “Green Treasure House,” “Kingdom of Plants,” and “Paradise of Animals.”

Location

Approximately 12 kilometers north of Zhenping County, Nanyang City, Henan Province, on the shady side of Xinghua Mountain

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relic Protection Units