Nanyue Fuyan Temple

Nanyue Fuyan Temple

Nanyue Fuyan Temple is a cultural heritage site protected by the Hunan Provincial Government.

Built during the Qing Dynasty. Located at the foot of Zhibaofeng Mountain on Mount Nanyue in Hengyang City, Hunan Province, it is one of the renowned temple structures on Mount Nanyue.

Situated beneath Zhibaofeng Mountain, about five li from Banshan Pavilion, you’ll find it after passing Mijingtai and descending along the road. The temple was established during the Southern Dynasties, originally named Bore Temple. In the first year of the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty (713 AD), the seventh patriarch of the Buddhist Chan sect, Master Huairang, preached the doctrine of “sudden enlightenment” here, hence the temple is also known as the “Supreme Court of Buddhism.” It was renamed Fuyan Temple during the Song Dynasty. Nestled among lush forests and bamboo groves, the temple has an ancient charm. Within the temple grounds are historic halls such as the Yueshen Hall, Abbot’s Quarters, Ancestral Hall, and Scripture Depository. Outside the temple, atop the mountain rocks, stands the Samsara Pagoda, which houses the remains of the temple’s founding monk, Master Huishi. To the east of the temple lies a square stone well from which clear spring water flows. The well wall bears the carved inscription “Tiger Running Spring,” and nearby stone tablets recount anecdotes about Master Huishi establishing the temple grounds.

According to the Qing-era Chronicles of Nanyue, the temple was built in the first year of the Guangda era (567) during the Chen Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties by Master Huishi of the Tiantai School, and was initially named Bore Temple. In the second year of the Xiantian era (713) of the Tang Dynasty, Master Huairang established it as a practice site to promote the Chan sect, using a brick-turned-mirror to enlighten and convert Master Daoyi to the Chan path. During the Northern Song Dynasty, it was renamed Fuyan Temple. It fell into disrepair during the Qing Qianlong era, and the current structures were reconstructed in the ninth year of the Tongzhi era (1870) under the decree of Peng Yulin. These include the Mountain Gate, Reception Hall, Yueshen Hall, Main Buddha Hall, Abbot’s Quarters, Ancestral Hall, and Dharma Hall. All are built along the mountainside, covering approximately two mu, constructed with brick and stone, featuring flush gable roofs and small green tiles. The Mountain Gate is inscribed with the name “Supreme Court of Buddhism,” and its couplet reads: “An ancient temple of the Six Dynasties, a practice site of the Seventh Patriarch.” Stone pillars in the Reception Hall are engraved with: “Fuyan is the foremost ancient temple of South Mountain; Bore is the unique gate of the ancestral teaching.” Behind the temple lies the Scripture Worship Platform, where cliff inscriptions read “Extremely Lofty and Enlightened,” traditionally attributed to Tang Dynasty Chancellor Li Bi. Nearby is a stone carving of the character “Buddha,” flanked by the couplet: “So high no crown is seen, so bright no other light is borrowed.” To the right of the temple stands an ancient ginkgo tree with a girth of over five meters and a history of more than 1,400 years. About a li in front of the temple lies the Samsara Pagoda, which is the tomb of Master Huishi.

Fuyan Temple holds a significant place in the Buddhist history of Mount Nanyue. In the fifth year of the Taijian era (573) of the Chen Dynasty, the Korean monk Xuan Guang came to Mount Nanyue, where Master Huishi personally taught him the Lotus Sutra. Xuan Guang returned to his country and spread the teachings widely, marking a glorious chapter in the history of East Asian cultural exchange.

On October 10, 1983, the People's Government of Hunan Province designated it as a provincial-level cultural heritage site, with reference number 74-17.

Address: Inside the Mount Heng Scenic Area, Hengyang City, Hunan Province, approximately 3 kilometers from Banshan Pavilion.

Type: Historic Temple

Recommended Visit Duration: About 1 hour

Phone: Mount Heng Scenic Area 0734-5673377

Official Website: Mount Heng Scenic Area http://www.nanyue.net.cn/

Opening Hours:

The temple is generally open during the day, and the monks rise early in the morning for morning prayers.

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Mount Heng Scenic Area ticket.