Chi Mountain Soaring

Chi Mountain Soaring

Chi Mountain is located to the east of Tuojiang Town, the county seat, standing by the Xiao River. “Its steep cliffs tower into the sky, and its precipices overlook the flowing river.” It gets its name from its shape resembling the legendary one-horned beast (the Xiezhi) from ancient mythology.

As the county seat of Jianghua, Tuojiang Town has a history of nearly 550 years, and this geomantically auspicious site—Chi Mountain—became the location where Chi Mountain Temple was built in the fourth year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1576), over four hundred years ago. Chi Mountain Temple has two unique features. First, it features an architectural layout that integrates Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. In ancient times, the buildings here were arranged in a row and connected as one, consisting of the Buddhist Guanyin Pavilion of Chi Mountain Temple, the Taoist Lüzu Pavilion, and the Confucian Wenchang Pavilion. What we see today is the layout reconstructed after the county seat was relocated back to Tuojiang Town from Shuikou Town in 1984. On the left is Chi Mountain Temple, on the right is Wangjiang Tower, and in front is the hexagonal pavilion built during the Republican era—Wangjiang Pavilion—representing secular culture and serving as a resting place for those taking the traditional ferry. The Lüzu Pavilion and Wenchang Pavilion were destroyed in wars throughout the dynasties and no longer exist.

Upon entering the mountain gate, we can see its second unique feature: Chi Mountain Temple is built within rock crevices, so to speak, embedded into the mountain itself. Following the mountain’s contour into the Guanyin Pavilion, you can reach the rocky cliffs halfway up the mountain. This is what is meant by “Buddha within the mountain, and the mountain within the heart.” At the mountaintop stands Lingyun Pagoda, one of the two provincial-level cultural heritage sites in Jianghua. Built in the eighth year of the Tongzhi era (1869), the pagoda is over 130 years old. It was originally constructed to anchor the region’s cultural fortune so it would not be washed away by the river—hence it is also called the “Literature Pagoda.” Lingyun Pagoda is a brick-and-stone structure in the pavilion style, with seven stories and a height of 21 meters. It has eight sides and four gates, standing tall and graceful, combining architectural styles of both Buddhism and Islam. Its exterior follows traditional Chinese architectural forms, featuring dougong (bracket sets), overhanging eaves, and upturned corners—distinctive elements of Chinese architecture. The interior, however, has a hollow domed ceiling with smooth curves, reflecting Western architectural techniques and Islamic style. This pagoda can be described as a perfect fusion of Eastern and Western design. Some experts have called Chi Mountain the only “Four Teachings in One” sacred site in the country. Perched high on the cliffs and situated at the highest point of the county town, Lingyun Pagoda offers a panoramic view of the entire town and is the best spot for climbing during the Double Ninth Festival. A Qing Dynasty scholar once wrote a poem in its praise: “A marvelously formed peak in the most serene setting, sunlight reflecting on the river’s flow... Here, two rivers meet rugged cliffs, and timeless beauty remains for eternity.”