Yongfu Temple at Rongshi

Yongfu Temple at Rongshi

Yongfu Temple at Rongshi is a cultural tourism attraction.

Yongfu Temple at Rongshi, located on Rongshan Mountain about half a kilometer north of Hui Cheng in Jieyang, Guangdong, was originally known as “Rongshi Hermitage.” It was established in the eighth year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1580). It underwent renovations in the seventeenth year of the Chongzhen reign (1644), the ninth year of the Kangxi reign and the fifty-fifth year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, and the twenty-second year of the Guangxu reign (1896). Between 1989 and 1999, it was completely rebuilt anew, now with a grand scale, and renamed “Yongfu Temple at Rongshi.” In 1987, it was listed as a county-level key cultural relics protection unit, and in 1988, it was registered and opened as a Buddhist activity site. It is one of the scenic spots in Huiyang.

The “Ancient Banyan Embracing Stone” features an ancient banyan tree growing around a rock. The banyan boasts gnarled branches and sturdy trunks, while the stone is covered with mottled moss — a remarkable sight where tree and stone form a unique bond. A shrine once stood on the rock, dedicated to the Goddess of Nine Sons (believed to bless mothers with nine children at once). During the Ming Dynasty, Rongshi Hermitage was built next to it. According to the “Yuanmen Stele Inscription” by Fang Shibin, preserved in the temple and dating back to the sixth year of the Qianlong reign (1741), in the eighth year of the Wanli reign, a local scholar named Fang Bingchen, who prayed for a child at the “Shrine of the Goddess of Nine Sons” built against the banyan and rock, was granted his wish. In gratitude, he donated grain fields on Rongshan, leading to the establishment of Rongshi Hermitage that same year. The “Huiyang County Annals” from the Qing Dynasty also record: “Rongshi Hermitage is located one li from the county seat. In the seventeenth year of the Chongzhen reign, County Magistrate Shen Huang constructed it. It fell into disrepair due to war, and was later renovated in the eleventh year of the Kangxi reign.”

During the Republican era, the hermitage faced east and was divided into sections: the front hall enshrined the abbess, patrons, and the Jade Emperor; the second hall honored the Patriarch Dadian; the third, the Mahavira Hall, enshrined the Three Buddhas; the fourth hall was for various Buddhas; and the rear section included meditation rooms and a dining hall, where a hollow-carved wooden fish was hung for signaling meal times. After 1950, the hermitage fell into disrepair and was nearly collapsed. In 1989, reconstruction began. With strong support and funding from devotees both in China and overseas, over ten years were spent building a grand Buddhist temple complex facing south, with a total floor area of over 1,000 square meters. New structures included the Mahavira Hall, the Heavenly King Hall, the Guanyin Pavilion, the Kṣitigarbha Pavilion, the Hall of Patriarch Dadian, the Hall of Patriarch Songchan, as well as a stele corridor and supporting facilities, forming a complete preliminary layout. A two-story building next to the temple serves as the headquarters of the county Buddhist association, becoming a hub for Buddhist activities across the county.

The temple now houses two culturally significant and scenic sites: one is the stele corridor, and the other is the Rongshi (Banyan and Rock).