YunGai Temple

YunGai Temple

YunGai Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

There are quite a few temples on Nan’ao Island. According to historical records such as the *Dongli Zhi* (Annals of Dongli) by Chen Tianzi of the Ming Dynasty, the earliest Buddhist temple was YunGai Temple (originally named Sanbao Temple, renamed during its Ming Dynasty renovation), which was founded in the Song Dynasty. It was designated as part of the second batch of cultural heritage protection units by the county government on August 15, 1992. Since 1985, after 16 years of painstaking effort by the abbess Venerable Tongjiao, who raised funds through dedication and hard work, the temple was rebuilt and expanded, and was consecrated on October 5, 2001.

The *Dongli Zhi · Territorial Records* by Chen Tianzi in the second year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1574) states: “YunGai Temple is located southeast of Nan’ao and was built during the Song Dynasty. There are the words ‘Purple Cloud Canopy’ carved on the stone.” During the Ming Dynasty, because YunGai Temple was widely renowned, it also became the general name for the several villages at the foot of the temple, before eventually being shortened to “Yun’ao,” as it is still called today.

The ancient temple has undergone many ups and downs. During the Ming Dynasty, when pirates were rampant, the temple was completely destroyed and later rebuilt. It is said that at its peak, there were nine tiered halls, but due to the misbehavior of the monks, it was demolished, leaving only the rear Guanyin Hall (the current site). In the winter of 1966, during the ten-year Cultural Revolution, “revolutionary rebels” stormed up the mountain, destroyed cultural relics in the temple, even took away the incense table, and drove out the nuns, leaving the ancient temple in desolation. A 4-jin iron monk’s alms bowl and other items were all lost.

In 1976, the chaos of the Cultural Revolution subsided. Starting in 1980, the nuns returned to the temple. From 1985 onward, thanks to the initial support of Venerable Dingyin from Hong Kong, as well as Venerables Wei Ze and Wei Jian from Singapore, the ancient temple was continuously repaired, rebuilt, and expanded.

In 2000, a new mountain gate was created. Upon entering the front gate tower, on the high seaward wall to the right, stands a newly rebuilt Miaoxiang Pavilion. In summer, when flowers bloom and a gentle breeze blows, it refreshes the spirit. Sitting leisurely inside and looking out the window, one can see Guanyu Islet floating in the sky, and the beach where the Song Dynasty Well is located is covered in lush green forest waves, a truly spectacular sight. Separated by an open courtyard from the pavilion is the main hall, the center of the entire temple. People often assume it is the “Mahavira Hall,” but the main shrine inside does not enshrine Sakyamuni Buddha, but Guanyin — a very unique feature. It is said that this is because the original nine halls of the ancient temple were demolished, leaving only this Guanyin Hall. Reconstruction began on the 17th day of the fifth lunar month in 1999 and was completed in December. The newly rebuilt YunGai Temple, facing southwest and situated northeast, is a thousand-year-old temple with a construction area of about 700 square meters.

On both sides of the main hall, new buildings have been constructed — the eastern side is a building, while the western side is a bungalow. There is also a rear gate tower (opposite the front gate tower), with a path leading to the mountains, offering a world apart. Nearby, rugged rocky cliffs rise, with springs gushing endlessly beneath them, all shaded by ancient trees.