Longquan Chan Temple in Bazhou

Longquan Chan Temple in Bazhou

Longquan Chan Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province.

Longquan Chan Temple is located in the center of Xin'an Town, Bazhou City, and is a historically renowned Chan (Zen) Buddhist site. It was first built between 947 and 950 during the Tianlu era of Emperor Shizong of the Liao Dynasty in the Later Han period. The temple houses two ancient wells that produce sweet spring water, capable of serving numerous visitors (as recorded in the county annals), hence the name "Longquan" (Dragon Spring), and the temple became known as Longquan Temple. The main hall was renovated in the 38th year of the Qianlong reign (1773), and in July 1982, it was designated as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Hebei Province.

According to the inscription on the "Imperially Bestowed Puzhao Chan Monastery" stele from the third year of the Jin Dading era: During the Song-Liao wars, Yang Yanhui was besieged at Kou Pass (Xin'an). Coinciding with a severe drought, the Song troops were critically short of drinking water, but these two wells provided an inexhaustible supply. General Yang was greatly pleased, military morale stabilized, and Zhao Defang, the Eighth Sage Prince of the Song Dynasty, upon hearing the news, personally inspected the site and exclaimed, "Heaven does not forsake the Song; this is truly the Dragon Spring." He then dispatched troops to guard it strictly, and thereafter it earned the revered title of "Imperial Well."

In front of the mountain gate of Longquan Chan Temple stands a Nine-Dragon Wall, intricately carved with nine divine dragons, each with unique forms and colors, vivid as if alive. In front of the temple is a gate hall, flanked by bell and drum towers on either side, with the Mahavira Hall in the center and the Chanting Buddha Tower at the rear. The main entrance of the temple is a three-bay gate hall with green-glazed tile edges and a hip-and-gable roof, also known as the Heavenly King Hall due to the statues of the Heavenly Kings inside. At the center of the hall is the Maitreya Bodhisattva, who is destined to become a Buddha in this world after Shakyamuni Buddha, and is thus also called the Revered Maitreya Buddha. The Maitreya Bodhisattva enshrined at the mountain gate of this temple is slightly different from the commonly seen laughing Maitreya—this one wears a heavenly crown, is entirely golden in color, and exudes supreme solemnity. On both sides of the hall are the Four Heavenly Kings: the Eastern Dhritarashtra, named Dhrtarastra, who protects the nation and holds a pipa; the Southern Virudhaka, named Virudhaka, who promotes the growth of virtuous roots and holds a sword; the Western Virupaksha, named Virupaksha, who observes and safeguards Jambudvipa while holding a fire dragon; and the Northern Vaishravana, named Vaishravana, whose fame for blessings spreads in all directions and who holds an umbrella. Behind the Maitreya statue is the statue of Skanda (Weituo), who is known as the Guardian of Buddhist Law, often patrolling the eastern, southern, and western continents, and is revered as Skanda Bodhisattva.

At the center of the temple is the Mahavira Hall, built on a one-meter-high brick platform. The hall has three bays, covered with a hip-and-gable roof adorned with green-glazed tile edges and diamond-shaped green-glazed tiles. At the center of the hall are statues of Shakyamuni Buddha and his two principal disciples, Kasyapa and Ananda, with eighteen Arhat statues on either side. The exterior eaves of the hall feature clean and solemn painted designs, with the Eighteen Arhats, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Shakyamuni Buddha, and his disciples rendered vividly.

The corridors on both sides of the Mahavira Hall are brightly painted, and the walls are inlaid with marble carvings of the Thirty-Three Forms of Guanyin: Willow Guanyin, Dragon-Headed Guanyin, Scripture-Holding Guanyin, Radiant Circle Guanyin, Playful Guanyin, White-Robed Guanyin, Lotus-Reclining Guanyin, Waterfall-Viewing Guanyin, Medicine-Dispensing Guanyin, Fish-Basket Guanyin, King Virtue Guanyin, Moon-in-Water Guanyin, One-Leaf Guanyin, Blue-Neck Guanyin, Majestic Virtue Guanyin, Life-Prolonging Guanyin, Treasure-Abundance Guanyin, Cliff Door Guanyin, Calmness Guanyin, Anuo Guanyin, Amogha Guanyin, Leaf-Robe Guanyin, Crystal Guanyin, Tara Guanyin, Clam Guanyin, Six-Times Guanyin, Universal Compassion Guanyin, Horse Lady Guanyin, Prayer-Gesture Guanyin, Unity Guanyin, Non-Dual Guanyin, Lotus-Holding Guanyin, Water-Sprinkling Guanyin—each image exuding compassion and solemnity, with its own symbolic meaning.

The rear hall has three levels: the basement serves as a dining hall (vegetarian canteen) that can accommodate hundreds of diners. The first floor is the Chanting Buddha Hall, where the main hall enshrines statues of Amitabha Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva. Amitabha Buddha is the ruler of the Western Pure Land, while Guanyin and Mahasthamaprapta are his attendants, assisting him in teaching and saving sentient beings. This one Buddha and two Bodhisattvas are collectively known as the Three Saints of the West, all with golden bodies and supreme solemnity. Behind the main hall are the Medicine Buddha Hall and the Ksitigarbha Hall, enshrining the Three Saints of Medicine and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva respectively. The second floor is the Guanyin Pavilion, housing the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin. As stated in the *Shurangama Sutra*: “Guanyin Bodhisattva, having cultivated perfect enlightenment and the supreme path, is able to manifest numerous wondrous forms—from one head and three heads up to a hundred and eight, a thousand, ten thousand, or eighty-four thousand resplendent heads; from two arms and four arms up to a hundred and eight, a thousand, ten thousand, or eighty-four thousand lotus-like arms; from two eyes and three eyes up to a hundred and eight, a thousand, ten thousand, or eighty-four thousand pure and precious eyes.” The Thousand-Armed Guanyin is supremely majestic, commanding reverence and admiration from all who see her. The Chanting Buddha Tower is adorned with splendid paintings, with murals of the *Universal Gate Chapter of the Lotus Sutra* and the *Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars* covering the surrounding walls. Everything in the temple inspires goodness and devotion to the true Dharma.

Scenic Area Address: No. 132, Xinhua Road, Xin'an Town, Bazhou City, Hebei Province

Transportation: Take a bus from Bazhou City bound for Xin'an, then transfer to a minibus to the middle section of Xinhua Road upon arrival in Xin'an Town.

Address: Bazhou City, Langfang, Hebei Province