The Huayan Temple of the Ming Fourteen Tombs

The Huayan Temple of the Ming Fourteen Tombs

The Huayan Temple of the Ming Fourteen Tombs is a cultural tourism attraction.

On the Yinping Ancient Road, there is another mysterious place — the Old Temple deep within Zhamugou, 15 li south of Qingxi Town. This is the former site of the Huayan Temple, a place built during the Yuan Dynasty and expanded in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which has suffered multiple destructions over more than 600 years. It is said to have been the hidden refuge of Emperor Jianwen of the Ming Dynasty. The ruins of the Huayan Temple are situated on a hill within Lotus Mountain, deep in Zhamugou, resembling an imperial mausoleum. On the western side of the valley, there are city walls built from massive stones. A path about 2 li long winds up along these walls, leading to the temple site at the mountaintop. The northern slope is gentler, with a relatively flat area below covering approximately 3,000 square meters. Standing at the temple site and looking north, the Yinping Mountains and Mapan Mountains are fully visible. In the southeast, south, and west directions, 21 mountain peaks gradually encircle like lotus petals, making the Huayan Temple appear as though it's situated upon an open lotus pedestal—its scenery is truly breathtaking.

This ancient temple in the deep mountains, through over 600 years of changes, has endured many hardships, experiencing both prosperity and decline. Although the temple buildings have been destroyed, the incense offerings continue, and relics remain. Four stone steles and one fragmented stele, all erected during the Qing Dynasty, have been discovered, along with one stone Buddha statue (the carving period of which remains unverified). Among them, the "Guangfo Stele" was erected in the first month of the Bingyou year, the eighth year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty. This stele is well-preserved, measuring 1.7 meters in height, 0.90 meters in width, and 0.08 meters in thickness.

The inscription on the stele is 1.56 meters tall.

It features the "Inscription Preface for the Establishment of the Huayan Temple Monument," which states "...originating in the Yuan Dynasty and also serving as the hidden refuge of Emperor Jianwen in the early Ming Dynasty..." The "Huayan Temple Reconstruction Stele" is also well-preserved. It was erected on the eighth day of the fourth month of the Yihai Year, the fifty-eighth year of the Kangxi reign, and measures 1.70 meters in height, 0.92 meters in width, and 0.05 meters in thickness, with an inscription 1.44 meters high. It includes the "Record of the Reconstruction of the Huayan Temple," which states "...There are two accounts regarding the establishment of the Huayan Temple: one says it began during the time when Emperor Jianwen was in hiding, and the other attributes it to Monk Yufeng, who initiated the temple’s founding in the sixth year of the Xuande era—this is the claim upheld..." The fragmented stele is 0.20 meters long and 0.08 meters wide, with an inscription reading "Kangxi fifth year." There are also two tombstones: one for a Bhikkhu monk, erected in the Bingshen year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty, and another for Elder Monk Yuansheng, erected in the sixteenth year of the Guangxu reign. The stone Buddha statue is seated, 0.70 meters tall, 0.40 meters wide, and 0.2 meters thick; the head is 0.20 meters high, resembling that of the Buddha, colorfully painted with a kind expression and flesh-colored tones. The hands are crossed and held at the abdomen, also flesh-colored. The robes are golden yellow, and the figure is seated cross-legged. At the back, there is a reliquary containing a Qing Dynasty almanac (a thread-bound book). (According to the temple caretaker, Monk Luo, there was also a map inside, which was taken by Xiao Yutang from the former Qingxi Police Station.) On the western side behind the temple site stands a stone pagoda, slightly tilted to the west. This pagoda is 2.30 meters tall, with a base that is 1.30 meters long and wide. It consists of nine tiers, alternating between square stones and round drum stones, bonded using the same mortar as the Ming-era Qingxi City Walls. The structure is four squares and five circles — the squares being larger than the circles. The top of the pagoda is conical, without any patterns or inscriptions. From the soil excavated around the base of the pagoda, it appears to be backfilled, suggesting that part of the foundation might be buried underground.

On the western side of the temple site, there are three longevity pools, each around 10 square meters in area, containing orchid-like aquatic plants. Regardless of drought or freezing conditions, the pools remain full and overflow year-round. One of the ponds contains a spring eye that shoots water in a lotus-like shape. To the west of the temple, a collapsed section of the city wall along the water channel stretches about 800 meters. It descends along the mountain and is made from giant stones with diameters between 1–2 meters, with the wall being about 4 meters wide.

The wall stands 1–3 meters above the ground, varies in height, and is double-layered and hollow — it is said that people could walk inside. According to the temple caretaker Monk Luo, this passage may connect to a “Fairy Cave,” located approximately 50 meters in front of the temple. The cave is about 0.5 meters wide and 50 meters deep. County records note that during the Ming Dynasty, the Huayan Temple was enclosed by walls approximately 5 li long, nestled against the mountain and near water. It included a mountain gate, three grand halls, and side halls, forming a grand Buddhist temple complex. Descriptions in the “Guangfo Stele” and the “Record of the Reconstruction of the Huayan Temple” about Emperor Jianwen visiting in the sixth year of the Xuande era align perfectly with the account in the 17th volume of the “Mingshi Jishi Benmo” (“Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty”), specifically the "Emperor Jianwen Abdicates the Realm," which states that in the sixth year of the Xuande era, the emperor traveled from Yan’an to Xi’an and then entered Shu. They also match the discussions in the “Ming History: Biography of Zheng He,” “Ming History: Biography of Yao Guangxiao,” and “Ming History: Biography of Hu Ying” regarding Emperor Jianwen’s flight. Furthermore, in the early years after liberation, a golden wooden plaque with a yellow dragon border and the text “Long Live the Great Ming Emperor Jianwen, Long Live, Long Live, Long Live!” was preserved before the main hall’s Buddha statue. All this strongly indicates that Emperor Jianwen of the Ming Dynasty did indeed take refuge at the Qingxi Huayan Temple in the sixth year of the Xuande era.

Zhamugou is deep with lush forests, and the Huayan Temple remains ancient and enigmatic. This is because the Huayan Temple holds many unresolved mysteries — why, just for the short period when Emperor Jianwen took refuge here, were such sturdy yet hollow stone walls built? Does the “Fairy Cave” really connect to the surrounding stone walls? Could this passageway be a secret escape route for Emperor Jianwen in times of emergency? What significance does the stone pagoda carry — perhaps representing the concept of “round heaven and square earth” or the “supremacy of nine and five”? Could it even be the tomb of Emperor Jianwen — the “Ming Fourteen Tombs”? In 1997, a small temple was rebuilt through donations from local residents, and its popularity has been growing daily. Let us wait and see what the future uncovers as we strive to gradually unveil the mysterious veil of the Huayan Temple.