Rao Ping Baique Temple

Rao Ping Baique Temple

Baique Temple is a cultural heritage site protected by Rao Ping County.

Baique Temple is situated about 1 kilometer north of Tuolin Town, Rao Ping County. It was built in the late Southern Song Dynasty. Originally called Tuolin Temple, it was named after the area's dense clusters of rocky peaks and tallow trees. According to the "Dongli Annals": "During the Song Dynasty, there was originally a Maoshan Nunnery, which was destroyed, so another Tuolin Temple was built to the north." In the 31st year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1603), the main hall was renovated. On the auspicious day for placing the ridge beam, Jiang Gaochuan (a person from the Ming Dynasty who served as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Punishments and was later transferred to Dachengzuo as a salt official) was respectfully invited to inscribe the mountain gate plaque. Coincidentally, a delicate white sparrow chirped joyfully on the beam. Seizing the moment, Jiang spontaneously used a chicken-feather brush to swiftly write the characters “Baique Temple” (Temple of the White Sparrow). The calligraphy was elegant and free-flowing, and it remains preserved to this day. Since then, the temple has been renamed Baique Temple. The architecture consists of a two-courtyard structure with earthen and wooden construction. The front hall enshrines Guanyin Bodhisattva, while the rear hall enshrines the Three Saints of the West. The temple houses precious relics including an 18-Arhat painting created by De Xiang, a monk from Tianzhuang Temple in Zhejiang during the Ming Dynasty, a thousand-jin bronze bell cast in the Ming Dynasty, and a sacrificial red vase fired in Jingdezhen during the Song Dynasty. The temple was renovated in 1982 and designated as a key county-level cultural relic protection unit in 1988.

Baique Temple is nestled at the foot of Huzong Mountain, north of Tuolin Town, Rao Ping County. Facing the sea and flanked by hills and pagodas, it enjoys a serene environment, thus the phrase “White Sparrows and Blue Lamp Light” was one of the ancient Eight Scenic Spots of Tuolin. Established during the Song Dynasty (960–1279), it underwent renovation in 1982 and was officially opened in 1988. Its ancient structures and nearby historic sites have attracted worshippers and literati through the ages. The temple also features a rare 198-character long poetic couplet (each line consisting of 99 characters) extolling the scenery.

The temple was originally named “Tuolin Temple” and was renamed starting in the 31st year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1603). According to Chen Tianzi’s "Dongli Temple" from the 2nd year of the Wanli era (1574): “During the Song Dynasty, there was originally a Maoshan Nunnery, which was destroyed, so another Tuolin Temple was built to the north.” In the early spring of the 31st year of the Wanli era (1603), Yue Tongguan, the garrison commander of Tuolin Fort, and the resident monk Ru Lian raised funds to renovate the Buddha hall. On the auspicious day for the beam-raising ceremony, Jiang Gaochuan, who had previously served as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Punishments, was invited to inscribe the temple plaque. By coincidence, a white sparrow flew in and chirped joyfully on the beam. With its delicate form, Jiang was inspired and spontaneously used a chicken feather dipped in ink to write the three uniquely styled characters “Baique Temple”: elegant and fluid, with dancing strokes that resembled a sparrow in flight. Thus, Tuolin Temple came to be known as “Baique Temple.” In the Republican-era Gengwu year (1930), Abbot Shi Duizhi raised funds for temple repairs. In 1982, after enduring years of political turmoil, with political stability and harmonious society, Venerable Xinming was determined to renovate the mountain temple, restoring the front hall. Later, Venerable Guangxing oversaw the construction of the Mahavira Hall, casting golden Buddha statues, and renovating the front courtyard, as well as the east-side wing with one hall and two rooms. The temple faces south and is situated to the north, covering a construction area of approximately 400 square meters.

The temple is located at the foot of a mountain, surrounded by abundant rocks and lush forests, featuring several scenic spots.

Mountain springs flow down. Two mountain streams flow from east to west, passing near the front of the temple, converging southeast of the temple, then flowing through the village and across the harbor into the sea.

Baique Stone Pavilion. Located under a bamboo grove on the left side of the temple, it is rectangular in shape, about 2 meters long and over 1 meter wide, with overlapping stone roofing, upturned eaves, stone pillars, and stone railings.

Zhenfeng Pagoda. Located on a mountainside hundreds of meters east of the temple, it was built in February of the 13th year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1353). It stands 22 meters tall with a base circumference of 16 meters, has seven stories and eight sides, and is entirely constructed of square stones. The top of the pagoda features a thousand-jin stone-carved precious gourd.

Butterfly Pavilion. Walking eastward along a small mountain path for several hundred meters from the pagoda, you’ll find the Butterfly Stone Pavilion beneath a giant butterfly-shaped rock. It features inscriptions such as those commemorating Liang Yu Kang, the daughter of Ming Dynasty garrison commander Liang Ye, who died for her country.

Fengchui Ridge Leizhen Pass. About one kilometer further east from the pavilion lies the widely renowned natural stronghold, Leizhen Pass. There are several cliff inscriptions from the 49th year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1680), including one by Wu Qizhen, the Deputy Commander of Rao Ping, stating “Tens of thousands of false officers and soldiers from various islands were persuaded to land here.” Surrounded by green trees and offering a commanding view from above, the scenery is majestic.

Source: Rao Ping County People's Government Website