Shehong Zhenjiang Temple

Shehong Zhenjiang Temple

Shehong Zhenjiang Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Shehong Zhenjiang Temple, located on the west bank of the Fu River in the southern part of Taihe Town, Shehong County — the capital of Shehong, known as the "Hometown of Guanyin Culture in Central Sichuan" and the birthplace of the famous Tang Dynasty poet Chen Zi'ang — was first built during the Tianyou era of the late Tang Dynasty (AD 904). Originally named "Huihuang Sanghao Temple" or "Huang Sanghao Temple," this thousand-year-old temple has experienced multiple rises and declines. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, it was expanded four times, but in the sixth year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty (1633), it was destroyed by a flood.

In the second year of the Yongzheng era of the Qing Dynasty (1724), the Tongzhi official and imperial scholar Ma Yin from Tongchuan was sent to Taihe. After conducting an on-site investigation and discussing with locals and monks, they decided to reclaim eight acres of land to rebuild a U-shaped temple. A nine-story Kui Pavilion was constructed, shaped like an iron anchor, symbolizing reaching up to heaven, descending into the underworld, commanding the Fu River, nourishing the inner plains, and subduing the water demons. It took two and a half years to complete and the temple was renamed "Wangye Temple." The renovated Huang Sanghao Temple, now called Wangye Temple, boasted resplendent halls and imposing momentum. Alongside the Daci Bei Hall of Dengyun Temple and the Lao Ya Mountain of Guanghan Temple, it stood in majestic contrast. The intricately crafted Buddhist statues inside — including those of Sakyamuni, Guanyin, Manjusri, and Samantabhadra — were exquisitely designed, naturally composed, and radiated spiritual power far and wide. The annual Temple Fair on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month was especially bustling.

The ancient Zhenjiang Temple has long been regarded as the foremost among the "Eight Scenic Spots of Shehong (Taihe)."

Zhao Xiexian, a renowned poet, educator, and local notable from Shehong who once served as the county magistrate of Yongping in Yunnan during the Qing Jiaqing era, composed a poem titled *View of Huang Sanghao*: "The old market still resembles a village, where birds chirp all around. Mountains embrace the land fervently, and the river stretches clear. The vast wilderness makes one’s spirit soar, and the open sky brightens the eyes. The Dragon Gate is blessed with fine feng shui — but where lies that other city?"

Current Status

Through the vicissitudes of time, since the 1950s, the monks of Zhenjiang Temple have left monastic life, the halls were repurposed, and the prayer hall was destroyed. Only the Maitreya Hall remains.

Since the reform and opening-up, with the reinstatement of religious policies, the ancient temple has regained vitality and adopted its current name, "Zhenjiang Temple."

In the late 20th century, Venerable Long Yun from Longbaoshan Temple took over as abbot. Determined to revive the ancient temple, and with the strong support and generosity of many, he worked diligently for ten years. On the foundation of the original structures, he successively built the Mahavira Hall, north and south wing rooms, the Five Contemplations Hall, and renovated or reconstructed the Wangye Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Maitreya Hall, Guanyin Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, Medicine Buddha Hall, Three Saints Hall, Skanda Hall, Chanting Hall, Scripture Lecture Hall, and Rebirth Hall. Inside the temple, wooden carvings of three Buddhas, eighteen arhats, the Three Saints of the West, Medicine Buddha, Ksitigarbha, and Skanda feature diverse and vivid expressions; the halls also display exquisite murals and poetic couplets... Thus, the thousand-year-old Zhenjiang Temple has become a classical-style religious and cultural complex.

In 2002, Shehong Zhenjiang Temple was officially approved by the county government and opened to the public.

After the 5.12 earthquake in 2008, Venerable Hongshan took over as abbot of Shehong Zhenjiang Temple. With great dedication and even selling his own private residence to fund temple reconstruction, Master Hongshan led devotees in raising funds. Nearly seven acres of land were repurchased, the back mountain gate and Guanyin Hall were repaired, the Mahavira Hall and North Building were renovated, a comprehensive building and front mountain gate were constructed, and plans were made to build the River-View Pavilion.

The ancient and dilapidated Zhenjiang Temple has thus been restored and expanded, gaining new life. The temple now covers approximately ten acres, with a construction area of over 2,000 square meters. It currently has ten monks and nuns and more than 500 registered lay practitioners.

The once grand and influential thousand-year-old Huang Sanghao Temple — now Zhenjiang Temple — which was famed for its “Nine Palaces and Eighteen Temples,” still retains the endangered Maitreya Hall, an ancient structure covering over 800 square meters, consisting of the main hall, south hall, and north hall, all urgently in need of restoration and protection.