Baoguo Temple

Baoguo Temple

Baoguo Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Baoguo Temple is the first temple on Mount Emei, the site of the Emei Mountain Buddhist Association, and the center of Buddhist activities on the mountain. The area around the temple is shaded by towering nanmu trees, enclosed by red walls, and features grand halls of majestic scale, resplendent with gold and color, with wisps of incense smoke and the frequent sound of temple bells.

The temple faces east and welcomes the morning sun while bidding farewell to the evening glow. It fronts Phoenix Fortress, backs onto Phoenix Plateau, borders Phoenix Lake on the left, and is flanked by Lai Feng Pavilion on the right, resembling a beautiful, auspicious golden phoenix ready to soar toward the rising sun. In front of the mountain gate stand a pair of stone lions carved during the Ming Dynasty, vividly shaped and imposingly majestic, like guardians protecting this famous mountain and precious temple. Above the mountain gate, the large plaque inscribed with “Baoguo Temple” was personally inscribed by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty and calligraphed by Yu Fan. Originally named “Huizong Hall,” the temple was built in the 43rd year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1615 AD) by Taoist priest Mingguang at the foot of Tiger Head Mountain, to the right of Fuhu Temple, symbolizing the convergence of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.

In the early Qing Dynasty, Huizong Hall was relocated to its current site. In the 9th year of the Shunzhi era (1652 AD), monk Wendao renovated the temple. In the 42nd year of the Kangxi era (1703 AD), following the Buddhist scripture’s meaning of “repaying the grace of the sovereign,” the name “Baoguo Temple” was bestowed by imperial decree, and in the spring of the 5th year of the Tongzhi era (1866 AD), monk Guanghui expanded the temple. After the liberation, it underwent multiple renovations, and in 1986, the mountain gate was rebuilt. The couplet on the pillars of the mountain gate, “The phoenix spreads its wings toward the golden palace, while the sounds of bells and drums frequently echo on the jade steps,” vividly depicts the surroundings of Baoguo Temple, this “golden phoenix.”

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites

Mount Emei

Fuhu Temple on Mount Emei

White Dragon Cave on Mount Emei

Moon over Mount Emei

Wannian Temple

Xixin Suo

Xiangxiang Pool

Natural Ecological Monkey Zone

Welcome Beach