Qinglong Chan Temple

Qinglong Chan Temple

Qinglong Chan Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

Having weathered a thousand years of trials, enduring hardships, and experiencing multiple rises and falls, the magnificent and solemn halls of Qinglong Chan Temple still stand in Beiwancun Village, Beishankou Town, Gongyi City, nestled in a hilly region.

Historical records state that in the seventh year of Emperor Yongming of the Eastern Han Dynasty (64 AD), the temple was built in succession with Ciyun Temple on Qinglong Mountain. It functioned as a rest stop and reception site for wandering monks and worshippers traveling between Baima Temple and Ciyun Temple, hence the name "Shifang Yuan" (Ten Directions Courtyard). Legend has it that Baima Temple is the foremost ancient temple under heaven, while Ciyun Temple in Gongxian is the second within the deep mountains. In the past, the temple grounds were covered with stone stelae, but after the liberation, these were repurposed for water conservancy projects, leaving no verifiable evidence of the temple’s rise and fall.

According to an inscription from the 12th year of the Daoguang era (1832) within the temple: “In the first year of Daoguang (1821), the main hall of the temple was consumed by a devastating fire, leaving nothing but ashes, a sight that moved many visitors to lament. In the Jiawu year (1824), virtuous individuals from nearby villages—Zhang, Ding, Liu, and Zhao among others—from Beishankou undertook its restoration...” The “Stele Record of the Reconstruction of Qinglong Temple’s Buddhist Structures and the Gilding of Divine Statues” states: “In Gongshan County, some twenty li to the south lies the towering Thousand-Ren-Cliff of Azure Screen, standing majestically amid the clouds—that is Qinglong Mountain. On the mountain’s shaded side stands a Buddhist temple called Qinglong Temple. It commands distant mountain vistas and is surrounded by stone springs, making it one of the scenic highlights of the district.” The 1991 edition of the Gongxian County Annals records: “The temple is located in Beiwancun Village, Beishankou Township, southeast of the county seat, commonly known as Shifang Yuan, and is a branch of Ciyun Temple.”

Before the liberation, Shi Suxi (now the honorary abbot of Shaolin Temple) once practiced Buddhism here, and the temple attracted numerous pilgrims with flourishing incense offerings. After the liberation, monks continued to reside and manage the temple. In July 2004, with the approval of the United Front Work Department of the Gongyi Municipal Government, the Gongyi Buddhist Association relocated to the temple. Since then, the temple has undergone renovations and resumed Buddhist activities, and now enjoys vigorous incense offerings.

Qinglong Chan Temple boasts a long history and grand scale. Notably, the 22 extant murals inside its halls are rare applied murals in the Central Plains region. These murals feature well-composed designs, smooth lines, and possess extremely high artistic value, providing precious material for the study of mural art and Buddhist culture. On February 1, 1990, the Gongxian County People’s Government designated it as a county-level cultural relic protection unit. On June 16, 2008, the Henan Provincial People’s Government listed it as part of the fifth batch of key cultural relic protection units.

Source: United Front Work Department of Gongyi Municipal Committee, Author: Zhou Lijuan

Beiwancun Village: Beiwancun Village... More details about Beiwancun Village++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units in Henan Province