Zhongguan Yun Guang Cave

Zhongguan Yun Guang Cave

On the mountainside of the Chenglong Highway in Liangqian Village, Zhongguan Town, Longhua County, there are several natural caves. Temples were built at their entrances, collectively known as “Yun Guang Cave.” The Chronicles of Chengde Prefecture record: “Yun Guang Cave is located forty li south of Huanggutun (now Longhua County) in the county (referring to Fengning), where the mountain terrain is steep and secluded. To its right, a spring emerges from between the rocks and flows southeast, joining the Guduhu River (now called Xinglong River). At the foot of the mountain, there is a cave embedded in the rock. In the 61st year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign, a temple was built around the cave. The Emperor bestowed upon it the plaque inscribed with ‘Yun Bao Zhu Guang’ (Cloud, Treasure, Pearl Light), hence the cave became known as ‘Yun Guang.’ At the cave entrance, there is an original stele, and to the left of the temple at the cave entrance stands a stele recarved in 2006, both with identical content. The inscriptions were composed by Jiang Tingxi, an imperial lecturer and Grand Secretary of the Cabinet during the Qing Dynasty. The original stele was calligraphed by Chen Bangyan, a Hanlin Academician and Reader-in-waiting.

The temple seen today was rebuilt in 1998. Under the eaves of the hall hangs a replica plaque inscribed with “Yun ? Zhu Guang.” The elderly caretaker asked us whether the character was “Dou” or “?”. It looked like “Dou,” but after consulting the Chronicles of Chengde Prefecture, we found that it should actually be “??.” However, both the person who wrote the plaque and those who recarved the stele mistakenly wrote it as “Dou.”

To the west of Yun Guang Cave, there was once a post station from the Liao Dynasty — Hui Xian Guan. To the south, on the mountaintop of Nangou, there are the “Two Stone Men.” Su Zhe of the Song Dynasty, who was sent as an envoy to the Liao Kingdom, once passed through here. He wrote two poems, one of which reads: “To the north, a screen; to the south, a barrier — all around, the western hills slightly part to let the stream flow. The Hu people pour wine, keeping guests lingering; these peaks and ridges are truly a fine place to roam.” The other poem goes: “On the ridge, walking west, I see two stone men, gazing at their reflections in the stream, hesitating long. Bowing their heads, they seem ashamed before the southern envoy; though their dwelling is high, they are—.” The first poem shows that the people of “Chengde” were already very hospitable a thousand years ago. The second poem uses the two stone men to satirize former Song officials who surrendered to the Liao Kingdom, took high positions, and felt ashamed when meeting envoys from the Song.

According to Volume 81 of the Rehe Annals: “The Yun Guang Cave Temple is located in Shidonggou, thirty li northwest of Zhongguan. It was built in the Kang? Liang?? period. The place is described as: ‘Surrounded by spiritual energy, it is a place suitable for worshiping the Buddha.’ As for the Chronicles of China, it states that the mountain and cave are elegant and mysterious, and also records the poets and scholars of the time.”

According to the Yun Guang Cave Stele: Wei Zhu, an imperial guard of Emperor Kangxi, passed by this place on his way to the Mulan Hunting Grounds with the emperor. He admired the scenery: with clear water in front and green mountains behind, lush grass and dense woods, he said it was a perfect place to promote Buddhism. Thus, in the 61st year of Kangxi’s reign (1723 AD), Wei Zhu funded and hired craftsmen to clear thick weeds and rocks, and built a temple by the cave and next to the water. The cave was used as a Buddhist hall, housing the Three Ages of Buddha. Beside it, on flat ground, twenty rooms were constructed to house scriptures such as “Purple Micro Dipper Pole” and “Shi Li Da Shi.” Wei Zhu respectfully requested Emperor Kangxi to personally inscribe the plaque “Yun ? Zhu Guang,” which was then hung inside the cave. Grateful for the imperial favor, Wei Zhu named the cave “Yun Guang.” He asked Grand Secretary Jiang Tingxi to compose a written account of the event, which was then inscribed on the stele by Hanlin Academician and Reader-in-waiting Chen Bang?. The event was recorded in the prefectural annals.

Starting from the reign of Emperor Kangxi, several generations of emperors stopped at Zhongguan Palace many times during the Mulan Autumn Hunt, making Yun Guang Cave a site for offering incense and paying respects along the route. However, the inner halls of Yun Guang Cave and the outer temple buildings were demolished in 1944. The statues were destroyed on the seventh day of the first lunar month in 1965, leaving only the stone steles. In December 1984, Yun Guang Cave and the steles were designated as a “County-level Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit” by the People’s Government of Longhua County. In March 1998, with approval from the Chengde Cultural Relics and Gardens Bureau, local villagers in Zhongguan Town raised 300,000 yuan, and under the guidance of the city’s cultural relics and tourism authorities, restored Yun Guang Cave. The restoration was completed on October 27, 1999, and the site was opened to the public.

Transportation Guide

Location: Liangqian Village, Zhongguan Town, Longhua County, Chengde City, Hebei Province

Getting There: Take a bus from Longhua County to Zhongguan Town and get off at Liangqian Village.