Zanhuang Huaiquan Temple

Zanhuang Huaiquan Temple

Zanhuang Huaiquan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Huaiquan Temple is located in the heart of the Zhizhutao Scenic Area of Zhangshiyan in Zanhuang County, originally known as Shifo Temple. It was built during the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1342–1368), and was renamed Huaiquan Temple in the sixth year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1527) by Qiao Yu, who was then serving as Minister of War and Minister of Personnel, when he passed through the area. During the Qing Dynasty, the temple was destroyed by a mountain flood, and later the arched stone roof also collapsed.

In 1988, the main hall was rebuilt with three bays, housing nine carved statues. In front of the hall stand two Thousand Buddha steles, along with one stele each commemorating the reconstruction of Shifo Temple, and recording a visit to Huaiquan Temple, as well as one Buddhist relic pillar. In 1990, the “Jiri Guisi” stele of King Mu of Zhou was relocated here from the county cultural center. The Thousand Buddha steles are Yuan Dynasty carvings, featuring a total of 1,014 relief Buddha figures between the two, all uniquely shaped. The sides of the steles are engraved with delicate and fluid line drawings depicting Buddhist stories, with vivid imagery. The Visit to Huaiquan Temple stele was composed and inscribed by Qiao Yu, describing the beautiful forests and valleys of the Zhangshi and Zhizhutao areas, as well as the story behind the renaming of Shifo Temple to Huaiquan Temple. The stele is 4.1 meters tall and 1.2 meters wide, with a total of 459 characters in the main text, combining running and regular scripts with vigorous brushstrokes, making it a fine example of calligraphy.