Jiangyou Yunyan Temple

Jiangyou Yunyan Temple

Jiangyou Yunyan Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Yunyan Temple is located on Douchui Mountain, about 25 kilometers north of Jiangyou City. The temple was first built during the Qianfu era of the Tang Dynasty (874–879 AD), flourished in the Song Dynasty, and was destroyed by fire at the end of the Ming Dynasty. The existing structures, except for the Feitianzang, were all reconstructed between the Kangxi and Daoguang reigns of the Qing Dynasty. The temple complex faces south and is built in ascending terraces. Along the central axis are five main buildings: the Mountain Gate, Civil and Military Hall, - Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Zhenjing Tower. Side halls include auxiliary structures such as side chapels, scripture halls, meditation rooms, and reception halls. Outside the temple on the peak of Douchui Mountain are also the Jade Emperor Hall, Dongyue Hall, Douzhen Hall, Luban Hall, and Feixian Pavilion. The temple covers an area of 26 mu, with a construction area of 5,051 square meters.

The Mahavira Hall of Yunyan Temple was rebuilt in the 13th year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1735). It is 14 meters wide and 17 meters deep, with a hip-and-gable roof. Its front and rear eaves feature bracket sets (dougong) projecting three tiers. The lower part of the base bracket supports a horizontal beam (pubaifang). The hall’s front is fitted with six-panel doors featuring openwork carvings. Inside the hall, there is a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, flanked by disciples Kasyapa and Ananda, with eighteen arhats on either side.

The Feitianzang Hall is a west-side hall of Yunyan Temple. It is 17 meters wide, 19.23 meters deep, and 16.91 meters tall in total height. The hall has a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof with bracket sets (wupu) used under both layers of eaves. The surrounding frame, roofing, and ridge styles retain Song Dynasty architectural techniques. The brick walls around the hall are decorated with glazed dragon patterns. The Feitianzang, also known as the Star Chariot or Rotating Scripture Cabinet, is a grandly crafted and ingeniously designed structure built in 1181 (the 8th year of the Chunxi reign, Song Dynasty). This small wooden structure is octagonal in shape, standing 10.3 meters high and 7.2 meters in diameter. At its center is a large wooden axle with a diameter of 0.5 meters, mounted on a base called the “iron goose-platform barrel.” Known as the “Mountain of Longevity and Sea of Happiness,” the axle rotates smoothly. Through the axle run beams and planks, forming an octagonal framework. The outer surfaces of the framework are adorned with exquisitely crafted heavenly palace motifs and 240 (currently 75 remaining) wooden Taoist figurines, some sitting and some standing, each with unique expressions. The beams and walls preserve exquisite powder-raised colored paintings and carved brackets and friezes. Despite renovations over dynasties that introduced techniques from various periods, the Feitianzang retains primarily Song Dynasty architectural styles. It holds significant artistic and historical value and is an extremely valuable cultural relic of Jiangyou.

The Feitianzang treasure house at Yunyan Temple on Douchui Mountain was listed as a Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the provincial government in 1956. In 1988, Yunyan Temple was designated by the State Council as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, with a protected area spanning 1,300 mu.

Protected Area: To the east, from the foot of the rock at the upper cable car station, along the city wall rock, through the front fortress gate to the water-immersed protrusion at Heifeng Gully, bounded by the city wall rock. To the north, from boundary markers 7, 8, 9, 10 on Fengchui Liang Yan’s mouth, passing Mowan to the foot of Yin’ka Shi Yan, to the west, from Yin’ka Shi to the west side of the rock foot at Zhutou Shi, passing Baihe Tu to the rock foot at Mahaoseng Fenwan Yan, reaching Xiao Shi Tu, then along the water channel to Sunzi Shi. To the south, from Sunzi Shi moving southward, along the soft ridges and small gullies on the east side of the main watercourse, including Tongzilin Kou, following the rock foot through Dagou Kou to the southern rock foot of the water-immersed protrusion. To the northeast, starting from Tuofeng Diecui, extending southward to the second cliff of Douchui Mountain, including the front fortress gate, passing Feixian Pavilion to Ba Wei Huang Ling Plaza, then northeast through Guanfeng Ping, Ta'er Fen, and rock-climbing areas back to Tuofeng Diecui.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units