Doufang Mountain Chan Temple

Doufang Mountain Chan Temple

Doufang Mountain Chan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

In Bailianhe, Xishui County, there is a thousand-year-old ancient temple — Doufang Mountain Chan Temple. The temple is located within the Bailianhe Scenic Area, at the southern foot of the Dabie Mountains, on the northern bank of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and at the junction of Xishui, Yingshan, and Luotian counties.

Doufang Chan Forest was initially built in 923 AD (the first year of Tongguang in the Later Tang Dynasty) by Monk Wuzhuo. During the Northern Song Dynasty, Monk Foyin resided here to preach Buddhist scriptures. It was destroyed during the Yuan Dynasty due to warfare. It was rebuilt in the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty on a grand scale, attracting hundreds of monks and disciples who gathered on the mountain, marking a period of great prosperity. In the early years of the People’s Republic of China, only the upper three halls of Shang Doufang remained. The beams and pillars of the upper hall were all made of stone, with eight stone pillars each 4.6 meters high and 2.2 meters in circumference. The architecture was sturdy, the design majestic, and the construction massive. In front of the hall was a moon terrace-like platform, and in front of the platform were stone steps. The middle and lower halls were built with blue bricks and also had eight stone pillars. The halls contained stone Buddhist shrines.

In recent years, Master Yinjing from Hong Kong, along with Buddhist disciples from both China and abroad, raised tens of millions of yuan to restore Doufang Temple. Venerable Benhuan, Vice Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Buddhist Association of China and a renowned Zen master of our time, served as the abbot of Doufang Temple. The rebuilt Doufang Temple officially opened to visitors on November 16, 1998. At that time, Zhao Puchu, former Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of the Buddhist Association of China, personally inscribed the name “Doufang Chan Temple,” further enhancing the splendor of this famous mountain and ancient temple.

The ancient halls of Doufang Temple are entirely built of granite, featuring stone beams, stone pillars, stone pedestals, stone frames, and stone walls. They are adorned with intricately carved coiling dragon patterns, demonstrating exquisite craftsmanship, grand momentum, and a rich legendary aura. It is a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit.