Baolun Temple

Baolun Temple

Baolun Temple is a protected cultural heritage site of Chongqing Municipality.

Baolun Temple is located opposite the overpass building in Ciqikou, backed by Baiyan Mountain and facing the Jialing River. Originally, there was a rocky outcrop behind the temple called "Baiyan," hence the town was also named "Baiyan Town." Baolun Temple covers a vast area, extending from Baiyan to Ma'anshan and all the way to Tongjiaqiao. The temple complex is interconnected, filled with golden Buddha statues that exude solemnity. The stone walls are carved with vivid statues of 500 Arhats. Within Ma'anshan lies a reclining Buddha, resting peacefully and comfortably. Someone, upon seeing its serene form, inscribed a poem on the wall: "You sleep so well, once asleep, all is done; if we all sleep, who will protect the nation?" Baolun Temple consists of various halls including the Mahavira Hall, Chuanzhu Hall, Guanyin Pavilion, Heavenly King Hall, Medicine King Hall, meditation rooms, and the scripture depository. The pillars of the Mahavira Hall are made of horse mulberry wood, thick enough to be embraced by two people, with diameters of about one foot. Remarkably, the entire structure of the Mahavira Hall was built without using a single nail. The hall features dragon pillars entwined with carvings of flying dragons and dancing phoenixes. Most strikingly, the bases of two pillars are uneven—one protrudes over a foot above the ground while the other sinks several inches—but the two pillars remain perfectly balanced without any tilt, a true masterpiece of craftsmanship. In front of the main Buddha statue is a well called the "Life-Release Well," whose bottom connects directly to the "Nine Stone Jars" by the riverbank. On the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, the Buddha’s birthday, philanthropists would buy ducks, fish, turtles, and other creatures to release into the well. The released beings would invariably appear in the "Nine Stone Jars." The temple roof features upturned eaves with tiles that appear ordinary from afar but are smooth on the back. When sunlight hits them, they shine brilliantly, and after rain, they create a rainbow-like effect over the temple. In the early morning mist of the Jialing River, Baolun Temple becomes even more mystical. Viewed from Geleshan Mountain, the temple glows with auspicious light, illuminating the sky. Perhaps, this is the legendary "Buddha’s Light Shining on Baolun Temple." The temple once housed over 300 monks and more than 100 meditation rooms; the number of monks from other regions who came here to receive precepts was also substantial.

With the arrival of Emperor Jianwen, the Buddha’s light at Baolun Temple shone even brighter, visible from the wellhead all the way to Liziba. In the past, the ancient temple had multiple levels of halls, dense forests, birds singing in chorus, and its grounds covered with lush pines and cypresses. There were 16 halls and 372 Buddha statues within. Unfortunately, the halls were destroyed in the fires of war during the late Ming Dynasty, leaving only the Mahavira Hall. During the Anti-Japanese War, some of the surviving meditation rooms in the rear hall were also bombed and destroyed by Japanese aircraft during their air raids on Chongqing.

Inside the original Mahavira Hall, there was a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, a mid-Qing Dynasty sculpture. The great Buddha has a kind expression, with slightly upturned lips, a tall and majestic figure seated in a lotus position. Its design is both solemn and imposing, incredibly lifelike. Upon entering the hall to worship, one can’t help but feel a sense of the Buddha’s boundless compassion and power, inspiring reverence and admiration. Despite the passage of time, the Buddha statue still shines with a golden radiance, a testament to the exceptional skill of ancient religious sculptors.