Xiang'er Temple

Xiang'er Temple

Xiang'er Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Located in the Xiang'er Valley, fifteen kilometers east of Pengshan County, Xiang'er Temple is embraced by mountains, shaded by bamboo thickets, and shaded by lush pines and cypresses. The temple complex is grand in scale, enshrining Sakyamuni Buddha and numerous deities, attracting a continuous stream of worshippers. The current abbot, Master Changquan, leads his disciples along with devout lay practitioners from across the country in Buddhist practice and meditation. The temple resonates year-round with chanting and soothing music.

Originally named Dasheng Temple, Xiang'er Temple was built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties and flourished during the Tang and Song dynasties. At its peak, it boasted nine towers, eighteen halls, and over three thousand rooms. With thousands of monks, it was said that “monks would meet without recognizing one another,” and daily life followed the rhythm of “ringing the morning bell for meals and locking the mountain gate by horseback.” According to the *Continued Biographies of Eminent Monks* by Tang Dynasty’s Dao Liang and the *Biographies of Eminent Monks of the Great Ming* by Ming Dynasty’s Ru Xing, Xiang'er Temple produced many eminent monks. The Sui Dynasty had Fa Tai, the Tang Dynasty had Dao Hui, and the Southern Song Dynasty had Master Yuan Jue—all known for their exceptional virtue and scholarly brilliance. Today, the temple’s bamboo grove is dotted with burial stupas of eminent monks throughout the ages, including the tomb of the renowned Qing Dynasty monk Da’er. At the age of seventeen, the Tang Dynasty monk and pilgrim Xuanzang came to Sichuan, stayed at Dasheng Temple, and studied Mahayana Buddhism under its leading master Dao Hui (579–649 AD) for three years, which greatly influenced his spiritual development. Upon turning twenty, Xuanzang received full monastic ordination at Dasheng Temple in Wuxi (Sichuan) in 623 AD, and by the age of twenty-one, he resolved and began his journey to retrieve Buddhist scriptures from the West. During the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, temple construction and Buddhist sculpture flourished nationwide, further expanding Dasheng Temple. After the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism gained dominance in China’s religious landscape, ensuring Dasheng Temple’s enduring popularity—especially during the Southern Song Dynasty, when another renowned monk, Yuan Jue, contributed both profound spiritual insight and notable literary and artistic talent.

As a historic temple, Xiang'er Temple not only gathered numerous monks but also left behind a rich legacy of Buddhist culture and heritage. Behind the temple, the surrounding mountains feature 31 Tang Dynasty cliffside niches, comprising 1,104 Buddha statues of varying sizes. Though weathered by time, their former grandeur can still be glimpsed. Notably, a statue of Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) on the right side of the temple is exquisitely serene, with soft coloring. The cloud patterns, water ripples, and dragons carved on the back niche remain distinctly visible, making it a true treasure of Buddhist art.

As a prominent temple in the Tang Dynasty’s western Sichuan region and a cradle of eminent monks, Dasheng Temple became a sacred destination for scholars and poets throughout history. The *Extensive Records of Shu* and *Famous Sites of Shu* by Ming Dynasty luminary Cao Xuequan and Lin Maozhi document how the great Tang poet Li Bai once studied here in his youth. Existing relics include Li Bai’s Study Platform, the Grindstone Stream, the Ink-Washing Pool, and an inscription by Li Bai himself, who stayed overnight and wrote: “Awakening under the moonlight, I found flower shadows strewn across my robes, as if I’d been purified in a crystal ice jug” (from *Geographical Records · Epigraph Catalog*). The *Pengshan County Annals · Antiquities* from the Jiaqing era note: “Xiang’er Cliff, located thirty li north of the county seat, is part of Xiang’er Mountain. Its steep cliffs, shaped by nature’s artistry, present myriad wonders. Among its carvings is a line left by Li Bai: ‘Amid entwined vines, it seems as if dragons are coiling.’” The Wu’s Rock bears the inscription “Grindstone Stream,” recalling the legend that young Li Bai once studied in the mountains but left in frustration before completing his studies.

He then encountered an old woman grinding an iron pestle by a stream. When he asked what she was doing, she replied, “I’m making a needle.” Inspired by her words, he returned to complete his studies. The old woman introduced herself as Wu Sheng. Li Bai later named the nearby rock “Wu’s Rock” and the stream where she ground the pestle “Grindstone Stream.” This gave rise to the famous fable “The old woman grinds an iron pestle into a needle” (recorded in *The Chronicles of Sichuan*). During the Former Shu Dynasty, the scholar-official and philosopher Du Bins圣 visited and composed a poem honoring the refined spirit of the “Pure Lotus Hermit” (Li Bai): “In these mountains still stands the Study Platform, where winds sweep the clear mist like a painted screen unfurling. The bright moon and crystal ice jug remain, but when will the Pure Lotus Hermit return?” To this day, around the temple and lakeshore, twenty-seven historical inscriptions endure. Ming Dynasty’s Xu Ren, governor of Meizhou, wrote: “Lofty green peaks seem to surge forward, autumn mist veils the Study Platform. The mountain spirits guard it well, awaiting the return of gifted seekers.” Qing Dynasty’s Hu Delin, magistrate of Shifang, praised: “Stubborn iron is ground into a battle-ax, stone milk drips into cascades. Purify the soul by the ice jug, flower-scented breezes fill the sleeves. Even immortals study here—how shameful is my own scholarly neglect.”

Xiang'er Temple is majestic and blessed with auspicious energy. The legendary 800-year-old longevity sage Peng Zu once resided here. As of 2002 statistics, Xiang'er Village where the temple stands and nearby Xiemǎ Village have three centenarians, the oldest being 107 years old. Xiang'er Temple is situated atop Xiang’er Root. The elephant is a sacred creature and a symbol of good fortune in Buddhism. Legend says Queen Maya, mother of Sakyamuni Buddha, dreamed of a six-tusked elephant before giving birth to him, hence Buddhism is also called the “Elephant Teaching,” and Buddhist doctrine the “Elephant Dharma.” This is one of the key reasons Dasheng Temple (now Xiang'er Temple) was established here. Xiang'er Temple lies at the root of Xiang’er, a strategic junction along the Min River waterway and land route in southwestern Sichuan. It was a vital passage from Jiajiang in southern Sichuan to Chengdu, making it a contested military site through the ages. The present Guanzikou was one such ancient battlefield. The *Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government* records: “In the 19th year of Jian’an during the Eastern Han Dynasty (214 AD), Zhao Yun took Jiawei (Commandery) via the outer river, then led a surprise force over the Wuyang Mountains to seize Chengdu.” The *Huayang River Records* state: “Jin Dynasty’s Huan Wen marched from Wuyang to Chengdu, covering 150 li and crossing the great river”—both routes passed through here.

The Xiang’er Mountains were historically home to the Wuyang Tea Market and the Pengkou Tea Workshop, a key center for processing Wuyang’s famed teas. “Since ancient times, monks have loved tea.” Tea shares an inseparable bond with Buddhism. While monks pursue simplicity and detachment from worldly life, long hours of meditation lead to fatigue, and tea serves as the ideal remedy. The Tea Sage Lu Yu once said: “Tea is of the coldest nature, most suited to those who cultivate virtue and refine their conduct.” Thus, the location of Dasheng Temple was closely tied to the once-massive Pengkou Tea Plantation and the major transportation routes of its time.

Surrounded by mountains, the temple offers a serene atmosphere where sweeping mountain mists and swaying green pines cleanse the soul as you walk along winding paths. Iconic peaks such as Xiangbi Mountain, Xiang’er Mountain, and Carear Rock stand guard before the temple, enveloped in dense vegetation and picturesque scenery. At the mountain’s base lies a shimmering lake, perfect for boating.

Through the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, Xiang'er Temple suffered repeated destruction but was also rebuilt multiple times. On the eve of liberation, though somewhat dilapidated, the temple still retained its scale, housing 26 monks and over 1,100 stone-carved Buddha statues. It was destroyed in 1958 but restored by Pengshan County Government in 1992. In 2004, Yu Bin, the first mayor of Meishan City, visited Xiang'er Temple with local officials, urging its revival to boost Pengshan’s tourism and preserve the essence of Buddhist and poetic culture. He personally inscribed plaques such as “Xiang’er Wind” and “Li Bai’s Study Platform.”