Sanfo Temple

Sanfo Temple

Sanfo Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Located in Jiangkou Town. Originally established in the late Qing Dynasty as a nunnery for bhikkhunis at Sanyin Nunnery, it has since been expanded. The temple complex consists of the mountain gate, main hall, Great Compassion Pavilion, and side rooms. The temple name was inscribed by Master Changming, President of the Hubei Buddhist Association. The site enjoys a serene environment with exquisitely crafted statues and is now a well-known Buddhist activity center in eastern Xia.

Temple Introduction

Sanfo Temple, located on Jiefang Road, Jiangkou, Zhijiang City, Hubei Province, was first built in the early Ming-Qing period, specifically the first year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty (the second year of the Tiancong era of the Qing Dynasty, 1628). It derived its name from enshrining the statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, and Bhaisajyaguru Buddha.

Temple History

Due to its “fortunate timing and strategic location,” the temple was the subject of numerous poetic and literary works by scholars and travelers throughout history. Liu Guoshi, a Grand Secretary of the Qing Dynasty and Minister of Justice, once authored an essay titled “Record of Sanfo Temple Stele.” In it, he described the scene as follows: “Sanfo Temple at Zhijiangkou features a facade nine bays wide and five tiers deep, covering an area of thirty-six hectares... Its halls are majestic, with carved beams and painted rafters, exuding grandeur.” “Monks and laypeople from all directions competed to pay homage, and generals and statesmen often composed verses... It was even reputed as one of the renowned temples of Jingchu.” This is the earliest known written record of Sanfo Temple to date. Through these concise yet precious words, we can imagine the grand occasion of the temple’s initial completion nearly four hundred years ago, as well as its prosperity and flourishing for a considerable period thereafter.

As time passed and the world changed, over the past four hundred years, Sanfo Temple has endured a tumultuous journey of repeated destruction and revival, with no certainty of continuity. In April 1940, the temple unfortunately perished under the iron hooves of Japanese militarism. By September 1949, Master Changming, then Abbot of Mituo Temple in Jiangkou, took Sanfo Temple under unified management and restoration as a subordinate temple of Mituo Temple. Through extensive fundraising, the major halls of Sanfo Temple were properly repaired, and various Buddhist activities resumed normally. For a time, the temple flourished spiritually, and incense offerings thrived—a truly extraordinary and miraculous turn of events.

However, as the saying goes, “The world is impermanent and ever-changing.” During the Cultural Revolution, Sanfo Temple suffered devastating destruction. Temples were ruined, statues smashed, monks and nuns driven away. For nearly thirty years afterward, the temple remained in a desolate state with ruined halls and scattered monastics.

Fortunately, after the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee, the government placed great emphasis on the reconstruction of Sanfo Temple and provided substantial support in terms of manpower, materials, and funding. With the kind care and support of Master Chang, President of the Hubei Buddhist Association, and people from all walks of life—especially since 1994 when Venerable Xijing became the abbot—Sanfo Temple has turned a new page in its history.

Currently, the number of Buddhists in Zhijiang City has reached 50,000. However, as the only temple in the region, Sanfo Temple suffers from limited space, small halls, and very basic accommodation and essential infrastructure. It can no longer adequately meet the needs of the many devotees who come to study and learn the Dharma. Therefore, a thorough renovation and expansion of Sanfo Temple has become an urgent and imperative task.

Temple Layout

The long-term plan for Sanfo Temple has been finalized. Once expanded, the temple will cover an area of over ten acres. The overall layout will include the mountain gate, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Great Compassion Hall, Scripture Depository, Guest Hall, Dining Hall, Monks’ Dormitory Building, Lay Practitioners’ Dormitory Building, Dharma Distribution Center, and Office Building as its main structures. The estimated total investment will exceed 8 million yuan, relying on the generous support of donors from all directions.