Chenghai Dansha Ancient Temple

Chenghai Dansha Ancient Temple

Chenghai Dansha Ancient Temple is a cultural heritage site protected by Chenghai District.

Chenghai Dansha Ancient Temple is located on the western side of Huqiu Mountain in Chengyanggang Village, Lianxia Town, Chenghai City. It was first built in the 13th year of the Chenghua reign during the Ming Dynasty (1477), but was later burned down by Japanese pirates. In the 4th year of the Tianqi reign (1624), the monk Zhenwen rebuilt the temple. During the Chongzhen era, the local scholar Huang Jin and the imperial censor Chen Langbi renovated it, but it was destroyed again. In the 17th year of the Shunzhi reign (1660), the monk Deyuan raised funds to rebuild it and converted the Guanyin Hall into a scripture depository. By the early years of the Kangxi reign in the Qing Dynasty, during the coastal relocation campaign, it was once again destroyed. In the 19th year of Kangxi (1680), the local gentry Yang Zhongyue led the monk Ruguang in raising funds for renovation, and in the 23rd year, the county magistrate Wang Dai inscribed the plaque. The temple’s mountain gate houses the Yuan Emperor Tower. In the 23rd year, Zheng Ужон, a local scholar, relocated the deity statues to the scripture depository and changed the worship to Wenchang. In the 26th year of the Qianlong reign (1761), the monk Zhaofu renovated the rear hall and monks' quarters. From the Chenghua to Hongzhi periods of the Ming Dynasty, the abbot Dao taught the people of Chaoshan the Wudang martial arts at this temple, known as the "Jiemei Society," to defend against pirate raids. Martial arts activities were halted during the reign of Emperor Wuzong. Later, monks from the Kaiyuan Temple in Chaozhou were sent to preside over the temple.

The temple follows a three-courtyard layout, covering a construction area of 2,500 square meters. The front plaza of the mountain gate spans 960 square meters and features a four-pillar, three-door, towering stone memorial archway, inscribed with the words “Erected by the Jiemie Society in the 6th year of the Tianqi reign of the Imperial Hongwu era (1626).” The mountain gate, front and rear halls, side rooms, and scripture depository all feature flush-gable roofs. It is also said that Dansha Ancient Temple shares incense with the Taoist holy site of Wudang Mountain in Hubei, China. The rear hall, Zixiao Tower, enshrines the Northern True Martial Emperor. The central hall and front hall altars worship Sakyamuni and the Wenchang Emperor (also known as the Zitong Emperor), making it an ancient temple that combines the worship of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.

The temple houses many stone inscriptions and tablets. The stone plaque reading “Dansha Ancient Temple” above the mountain gate was handwritten by Wang Dai, the magistrate of Chenghai County during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty. The stone couplet reads: “Amidst the world of tigers, reality and illusion interplay—reality within illusion, illusion within reality. The vast embraces the solid; a sincere heart transcends the void. Only through humility tested by a thousand cliffs can one glimpse the elixir of sainthood. To truly enrich and empower the people, the True Martial Emperor embraces the heavens. Amidst the hills of worldly affairs, right and wrong intertwine—wrong within right, right within wrong. Overcoming wrong to embrace right, respecting right to restrain wrong. Extraordinary truths must weather ten thousand waves; only by sifting sand can gold be found. Such truths bring prosperity to family and nation. Those with the Way shall ascend beyond the clouds.” On the eastern side room wall is embedded a Ming Dynasty stele inscribed with “Record of Zixiao Tower” written by Chen Liangbi (2 meters high and 1 meter wide), and a Qing Dynasty stele inscribed with “Record of the Wenchang Shrine” by the local scholar Yang Zhongyue, [both in elegant and graceful calligraphy]. There is also a Ming Dynasty plaque inscribed with “Phoenix Comes to Wudang” by Yang Rensi, along with stone carvings of the verses “Mysterious craftsmanship births radiant images; miraculous methods instantly bloom like bowl flowers.” There are additional stone carvings of “Thousand-Year Radiance” by Cai Suk’an, and verses “Fragrant clouds weave shadows across the Three Jewels; virtue rains nourish all directions,” as well as calligraphic artworks such as “Phoenix Flying” and “Tiger Leaping,” both single-stroke stone engravings.

In 1984, the Chenghai County People’s Government designated it as a cultural heritage site.

Lianxia Town: Located north of Chenghai’s urban area, Lianxia Town borders the Han River tributary Lianyang River to the south, faces the South China Sea to the east, and leans against Fengming Mountain to the west. Rich in natural resources and long known for its cultural prosperity and bustling commerce, it currently administers 30 administrative villages with a population of 102,500. Covering a total area of 56.09 square kilometers, including an urban-built-up area of 9.31 square kilometers, it is listed as a central town of Guangdong Province.

In recent years, Lianxia Town has focused on goals of industrialization and urbanization, striving to adjust its economic structure, improve the investment environment, and enhance human capital quality, achieving fruitful results. Economic development has reached new heights. In 20… More details about Lianxia Town ++