Ancestral Tomb Pagoda Complex of Qingyun Temple

Ancestral Tomb Pagoda Complex of Qingyun Temple

The Ancestral Tomb Pagoda Complex of Qingyun Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Ancestral Tomb Pagoda Complex of Qingyun Temple is located in Dinghu Mountain, Zhaoqing City, distributed across the Tianxi and Yunxi scenic areas. The tomb pagoda of the first-generation ancestor of Qingyun Temple was built in the 17th year of the Shunzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1660), the second-generation ancestor’s pagoda in the 30th year of the Kangxi reign (1691), and the communal pagoda for all abbots throughout the temple's history was also constructed in the 30th year of the Kangxi reign. At that time, Qingyun Temple erected a stele, with monks from across the mountain agreeing: “From now on, successive abbots should no longer build their own bone pagodas around Qingyun Temple. Instead, a communal pagoda for all abbots shall be built, and from this day forward, any abbot who assumes the position at this mountain shall have their remains enshrined within it” (referring to this very pagoda). However, later on, some abbots and highly respected elder monks, upon passing away, did not follow the stele’s agreement and instead built separate tombs (pagodas). Examples include: the tomb of Monk Changlang, built in the 16th year of the Qianlong reign (1751); the tomb of Monk Dexia, built in the 16th year of the Daoguang reign (1836); the tomb of the 16th-generation abbot and the 40th-generation abbot, built in the 10th year of the Tongzhi reign (1871); the tombs of Monk Zuoyun and Monk Zhenghui Zuming, built in the 12th year of the Tongzhi reign (1873); the tomb of the 56th-generation abbot, built in the 4th year of the Republic of China (1915); the tomb of the 61st-generation abbot, built in the 16th year of the Republic of China (1927); the tomb of the 68th-generation abbot, built in the 19th year of the Republic of China (1930); and the tomb of the 69th-generation abbot, built in the 30th year of the Republic of China (1941), among others.

The tomb pagoda of the first-generation ancestor, Monk Qihu, and the tomb pagoda of the second-generation ancestor, Monk Zaishen, are situated on the hillside to the south behind the temple, about 200 meters from the ancient Longquan. The two burial sites are built along the contour of the hill, connected vertically and covering an area of over one acre. The ground of both tombs is paved with polished bluestone slabs, while the rear and side walls are built with large stone blocks. The edges of the graves are adorned with square stone slabs carved with bas-relief patterns. At the center of each tomb site stands a stone pagoda; the base of the pagoda features two layers of lotus petal engravings, and the top is covered by a single large stone carved into the shape of a lotus blossom. Each pagoda has a circumference of 4.5 meters and a height of 2.1 meters. In front of each pagoda is a stone offering table and a square stone incense burner. Both tomb pagodas have a stone stele placed beside them, made of bluestone, standing 2.4 meters tall and 1.2 meters wide. Each stele bears inscriptions recording Buddhist activities as well as the life stories of the first and second-generation ancestors of Qingyun Temple. Among them, the inscription on the stele of the second-generation ancestor, Monk Zaishen, was composed by Liang Peilan, calligraphed by Chen Gongyin, and written in clerical script—the main text holds considerable artistic value.