Yongqing Temple in Zizhong

Yongqing Temple in Zizhong

Yongqing Temple in Zizhong is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province and a patriotic education base.

Yongqing Temple is located on Chonglong Mountain in the northeast corner of Zizhong County, Sichuan Province. Situated in the middle section of the Chengdu-Chongqing Expressway, it is 142 kilometers from Chengdu and has been developed as a venue for religious activities and sightseeing. The temple was originally built during the Tang Dynasty, expanded in the 38th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1559), and renovated in the 60th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1721), followed by multiple renovations during the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods.

In front of the temple stands a stone memorial archway inscribed with “Ancient Relics of Chonglong” at the top, flanked by the couplet: “A pair of cranes across the river evoke traces of the immortal official; atop the hundred-foot tower, search for their perch; Chonglong Mountain encircles the town, following the former sites of eminent figures; at the Sandui ferry, gaze toward the Dragon Gate.” On the back of the archway is written “Famed Temple of Western Shu,” accompanied by the couplet: “Leaning on the Han and reaching the clouds, it is truly a Buddhist realm in the West; scooping up water, the sound is distinctly that of the sacred Caoxi Stream.”

Behind the archway is the “Proclamation of Cultural Mandate” memorial gate, which leads to the temple’s Heavenly King Hall. Behind that hall stands an octagonal pavilion with double eaves. Legend says it is the "Crane-Arriving Pavilion" built during the Song Dynasty. Behind the pavilion is the Guanyin Hall of Mount Putuo. Further back lies the “Heavenly Pool,” which never dries up even in severe droughts. Behind the pool is the Mahavira Hall, with a Moon Pond on its right side.

Legends

Towering green mountains pierce the sky; towers and terraces adorn the Buddha’s palace. Wandering on the soaring Yuening Ridge, the Pearl River, like a silk ribbon, points within sight. This is a poem about Zizhong’s Chonglong Mountain composed by Yang Shunyuan, the Ming Dynasty’s Sichuan Circuit Intendant. The poem refers to the ancient temple atop the mountain – Yongqing Temple. Though only twenty-eight characters long, the verse vividly depicts the splendid scenery of Chonglong Mountain and Yongqing Temple.

History

Yongqing Temple, known as the “Famed Temple of Western Shu,” is situated on Chonglong Mountain in Zizhong County, Sichuan Province. During the Ming Dynasty, Master Wuyun preached here, and the temple enjoyed great popularity. Historical records indicate that a temple was first built on the mountain during the Tang Dynasty. The current Yongqing Temple was rebuilt in the 38th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1559) and has a history of over 400 years. The plaque bearing the temple’s name, “Yongqing Temple,” is elegant and vigorous, handwritten by Master Qingding.

During the Cultural Revolution, most of the temple’s Buddha statues, halls, plaques, couplets, and Buddhist scriptures were destroyed. After the Cultural Revolution, Yongqing Temple was revitalized and was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan in 1991. In 1993, it was officially approved as an open site for religious activities, and the Zizhong County Government invited Master Zhichang from Neijiang’s Shengshui Temple to serve as the abbot of Yongqing Temple.

It is now a key cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

Features

The overall layout of the temple is linear, with the Heavenly King Hall, Crane-Arriving Pavilion, Avalokiteshvara Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Arhat Hall aligned along the central axis. On both sides are the bell tower, drum tower, guest hall, dining hall, abbot's quarters, and monks’ dormitories. Between the halls and corridors are adorned with calligraphy and paintings by famous artists. The temple’s “Heavenly Pool” is the highest point in the county, with crystal-clear water. Inside the Avalokiteshvara Hall stands a vivid statue of the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin. The Arhat Hall was newly built in recent years and is the only Five Hundred Arhats Hall on the Chengdu-Chongqing central route.

The temple faces south and is laid out like a traditional quadrangle, covering an area of 10,200 square meters with a construction area of 2,869 square meters. It consists of the stone mountain gate archway, Heavenly King Hall, Crane-Arriving Pavilion, Mount Putuo Hall, Mahavira Hall, and east and west wing rooms. Among them, the wooden plaque of “Proclamation of Cultural Mandate” is the only surviving historical witness of the “Killing of Duan Fang” during the Xinhua Revolution. The main structure, the Mahavira Hall, features harmonious design, appropriately sized decorations, exquisite patterns, and fine carvings. Especially notable is the roof design, which showcases rich regional characteristics and embodies the delicate and elegant style of classical southern architecture, making it an exceptional rare architectural treasure. The Crane-Arriving Pavilion in the temple is exquisitely elegant with its double-eaved octagonal structure. Legend says Chonglong Mountain was once covered with lush cypresses and pines, often frequented by white cranes resting and soaring above, hence the name “Crane-Arriving” for the pavilion. In the 18th year of the Guangxu reign (1892), Gao Peigut, who administered Zizhou, expanded the pavilion into a garden and wrote the “Record of Crane-Arriving Garden,” recorded by Bao Ruxie, a famed calligrapher of Sichuan, on a stele.

In front of Yongqing Temple stands the majestic “Ancient Relics of Chonglong” archway. Within the temple are the legendary Heavenly Pool and various exquisitely designed buildings. Behind the temple are the inner city walls and the stone memorial archway of the Ming Dynasty’s “Jade Void Palace.” Slightly downslope to the east lies Crane-Arriving Garden, with its pavilions and corridors, creating a serene, simple, and expansive cultural landscape integrating temple and garden elements. Yongqing Temple has always attracted numerous worshippers with its long-standing popularity and eminent monks, earning its fame as the “Famed Temple of Western Shu.” The temple and its wooden archway are integral components of the Chonglong Mountain Provincial Scenic Area in Zizhong and also serve as crucial educational bases for patriotism.

Protected area: East, south, and west to the foot of the mountain cliffs; north to the outer foundation of the inner city wall.

Construction control zone: East to the teaching building of No.1 Middle School North Campus; south and west to the lotus pond; north to the mountain gate leading uphill.