Changlong Mountain Tianxian Temple

Changlong Mountain Tianxian Temple

Changlong Mountain Tianxian Temple, with a long history and worldwide renown, is a Taoist sacred site spanning tens of thousands of square kilometers at the junction of eastern Chongqing, southern Shaanxi, and western Hubei, and enjoys the prestigious title of "Sichuan's Wudang." According to folklore, Princess Pingyang, daughter of Emperor Ping of the Han Dynasty, fled here to escape war and turmoil. When bandits attempted to abduct her, Princess Pingyang subdued them by force. Seeing the strategic and picturesque terrain here, she chose to stay—eventually attaining enlightenment and immortality. Later, Emperor Guangwu of Han posthumously honored her as the Tianxian Princess. To commemorate the Tianxian Princess, people donated funds to build Tianxian Temple in her honor, maintaining worship rituals that have endured through the ages.

Tianxian Temple stands atop the head of Changlong Mountain. Hence, the couplet at the temple gate reads: “Peaks tower all around with clouds as their crown; two rivers converge as the temple rests in the midst.” The exact year of the temple’s initial construction remains uncertain. According to the *Kuizhou Prefecture Records* from the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty: “The temple is situated at the summit of Changlong Mountain. From afar, it appears sharp on top and round below, resembling an inverted bamboo hat. Open on both sides and the back, it is flanked by two streams and stands proudly alone. A spiral path of about ten li leads to the summit, where a ridge stretches one or two li ahead. The rocks are mostly shaped like dragon scales. At the mountain’s peak stands a solitary peak, behind which lies Tianxian Temple, home to Taoists who enshrine the True Martial Deity. It is said to be highly efficacious, with an annual tradition of ‘Snow Sage sweeping the temple.’ From the first to the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, incense offerings are especially abundant, drawing visitors from far and wide who often stay overnight beforehand. Locals call it ‘Sichuan’s Wudang.’ Its origins are unknown, but it was destroyed by sectarian rebels in the early Jiaqing era and later rebuilt through fundraising.”

It is also said that Zhu Youfu, a professor at Kuizhou Prefecture, wrote: “Tianxian Temple’s origins are unknown. It was damaged by sectarian rebels in the early Jiaqing era and subsequently rebuilt, hence its current modest scale.” Examination of temple steles shows multiple renovations during the Daoguang and Xianfeng eras. In the 20th year of the Guangxu reign (1894), the temple was destroyed by fire and restored the following year. In the 15th year of the Republic of China (1926), the front and rear halls were repaired. The architectural craftsmanship of Tianxian Temple is considered masterful. Covering approximately 600 square meters, the temple’s skilled builders constructed the “River-Watching Pavilion” seemingly floating in midair on a base of less than 300 square meters. The structure features stone pillars, stone railings, and stone halls, with three grand halls ascending via steps—majestic and imposing. The upper pavilion is spacious, bright, and interconnected. It has inner and outer sections: the inner rooms serve as guest quarters, while the outer layer functions as corridors for enjoying the view. Being there feels like standing in a cloud-surrounded pavilion. In the 29th year of the Republic of China (1940), stationed troops besieged the Yin Dao Hui (a militant sect) led by Liu Baiwo, who occupied the temple. The pavilion was obliterated by artillery fire. In the 32nd year of the Republic of China (1943), Wang Chuheng and his son initiated a rebuilding effort, but the scale was far smaller than before. After the founding of the People’s Republic, Taoist priests still resided there. During the Great Leap Forward, the forests of Changlong Mountain—including century-old pines and cypresses planted by a Taoist master—were destroyed. The temple was completely ruined during the Cultural Revolution. After the reform and opening-up period, a small shrine was built, and devotees continued to worship on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, with even larger gatherings during temple festivals. In 1995, the Fengjie County Government approved its reopening and established the “Fengjie County Changlong Mountain Tianxian Temple Management Committee.” Successive directors, Taoist priests Li Zhisheng and Chen Mingsheng, raised over 2 million yuan to construct the Tianxian Hall, True Martial Hall, Three Pure Ones Hall, dining hall, priest dormitories, layperson residences, the mountain gate, stone stairs, and mountain paths. The total floor area of the halls reached 4,100 square meters, including the 380-square-meter Three Pure Ones Hall and Tianxian Hall, with a 1,000-meter-long stone stairway consisting of over 3,000 steps. Thus, Tianxian Temple was revived, restoring its former glory with a renewed appearance.

Changlong Mountain Tianxian Temple embodies a rich heritage of Taoist culture and enjoys widespread popular devotion. The temple houses a wealth of stone carvings, inscriptions, and couplets by notable figures—artistic, refined, and exquisitely crafted—making them treasures of Chinese culture. For millennia, worshippers have prayed for favorable weather, family safety, good fortune, and spiritual transcendence, giving rise to countless touching stories and beautiful legends. For example, the *Kuizhou Prefecture Records* from the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty note that the patriarch Zhang Sanfeng traveled through Fengjie in the early Ming Dynasty, staying three days on Changlong Mountain before proceeding to the county seat. There, he spent seven days with the Kaiyuan Temple’s Monk Guanghai, discussing Buddhism and Taoism. He left behind three agarwood pieces, a pair of straw sandals, a poem, and then departed effortlessly.

The poem reads: Delving deep into the pagoda, I sever worldly ties; Luxury and excess align perfectly with my path. Heavenly flowers faintly reveal auspicious signs; Rustling leaves chant as one rides the wind. In the quiet chamber, idle books lie beneath a cloud-canopy; In the hushed pavilion at night, the moon serves as a lamp. Soul dissolves, shadow scatters—what fate remains? Where in this world can one ever find the old monk?

Later, Monk Guanghai presented the poem and the two items to Emperor Wen, who rewarded him with a jade ring and a thousand-Buddha kasaya. Though the founding date of Changlong Mountain Tianxian Temple is unverifiable, historical records show it was already widely renowned during the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty, with flourishing incense offerings and throngs of devotees. It evolved from a simple shrine dedicated to the Tianxian Princess into a Taoist temple enshrining Laozi, the Jade Emperor, and the True Martial Deity. Regardless of the upheavals of history, Changlong Mountain Tianxian Temple has always compassionately watched over the joys and sorrows of humanity, bound by the karmic ties of extraordinary people and places.

Since its reopening and restoration, Tianxian Temple has seen growing incense offerings. It currently has over 200 Taoist priests and lay practitioners. Over the past five years, it has welcomed nearly 500,000 domestic and international visitors, with peak daily attendance reaching nearly 10,000. In this new century, Changlong Mountain—with its spectacular natural landscapes and profound cultural heritage—supported by the unwavering dedication of its followers and the spirit of spreading Taoist teachings, will surely develop into the foremost Taoist temple in eastern Chongqing and the Three Gorges region, as well as a renowned Taoist sacred site at the convergence of Chongqing, Shaanxi, and Hubei.