Xuanzhong Temple in Jiaocheng

Xuanzhong Temple in Jiaocheng

Xuanzhong Temple is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

Xuanzhong Temple is located in Shibi Mountain, 10 kilometers northwest of the county town, covering a construction area of 6,000 square meters. It is the oldest existing ancestral temple of the Japanese Buddhist Pure Land Sect and True Pure Land Sect in China.

The temple was first built in the second year of the Yanxing era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (472), took four years to construct, and was completed in the first year of the Chengming era (476). The founding patriarch of the Pure Land sect, Tanluan, resided here. In the fifth year of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty (609), the renowned monk Daochuo entered the temple, renovating and expanding it. In the ninth year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty (635), Emperor Taizong visited Taiyuan and paid homage to Xuanzhong Temple to pray for the recovery of Empress Wende, bestowing upon it the name "Shibi Yongning Chan Temple." From then on, Xuanzhong Temple became an official temple and underwent large-scale expansion. In the fifteenth year of the Zhenguan era (641), Shandao became a disciple of Daochuo and promoted the Pure Land teachings. In the ninth year of the Kaiyuan era (721), the Sweet Dew Unimpeded Dharma Altar was established. Later, the local magistrate Zhang Lingsun built the front hall, corridors, and grand gates, expanded the rocky cliffs, and enlarged the temple. On September 22 of the twelfth year of the Zhenyuan era (796), sweet dew descended on Shibi Mountain, prompting Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty to order the establishment of the Sweet Dew Dharma Altar. In the seventh year of the Yuanhe era (812), Emperor Xianzong bestowed the name "Longshan Shibi Yongning Chan Temple" and granted the temple over 150 li of temple fields. In the fifth year of the Yuanyou era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1090), the temple was struck by a great fire, leaving only the Imperial Calligraphy Pavilion and Dharma Hall. The monks, led by Daozhen, extensively raised funds and gradually restored the temple over several years. In the twenty-sixth year of the Dading era of the Jin Dynasty (1186), the temple suffered another fire, reducing halls, pavilions, chambers, and stone structures to ashes. The monk Yuanzhao was determined to revive the temple, re-engraved the stele of the Bohai Gao family, and rebuilt the temple, giving it a completely renewed look. At the end of the Jin Dynasty, during wartime chaos, the temple was once again reduced to ruins. In the first year of the Taihe era of the Yuan Dynasty (1231), the Secretariat ordered Cui Ding, the tax supervisor of Taiyuan, to proclaim that Shibi Temple be renamed "Longshan Huguo Yongning Shifang Dayuanzhong Chan Temple," instructing the monk Huixin of Yuanming Chan Temple to rebuild the halls and recast the golden statues. In the sixth year of the Zhiyuan era (1269), Huixin’s eminent disciple Guang’an was appointed as the Chief Monk of the Taiyuan Road, overseeing a large-scale expansion of the temple. By the first year of the Yuanshun era (1295), the temple had over 40 branch temples across Shanxi Province and beyond. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, during further turmoil, all temple halls were once again destroyed. In the twelfth year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1414), the monk Luyan rebuilt the Mahavira Hall. In the ninth year of the Xuande era (1434), parts of the temple were restored.

In the nineteenth year of the Jiajing era (1500), the monk Fachuang renovated the Dharma Hall and monks' quarters. In the thirty-third year of the Wanli era (1605), the Heavenly King Hall was rebuilt. In the fifteenth year of the Kangxi era (1676), the Standing Buddha Hall was renovated. In the thirty-third year of the Kangxi era (1694), the monk Zhenchang raised funds to repair the Skanda Hall. In the eleventh year of the Jiaqing era (1806), the east and west courtyards were renovated. During the Tongzhi era, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall was destroyed by fire. In the second year of the Guangxu era (1876), the east and west side halls were destroyed by fire. In the seventeenth year of the Guangxu era (1891), another fire struck. By then, only the Heavenly King Hall, the Zhunti and Jiying Halls, the Patriarch Hall, and the Shrine of the Two Doves and Pigeons remained. In the twenty-first year of the Republic of China (1932), the eminent monk Likong visited the temple and witnessed its desolate state. The following year, he invited Leshi to serve as abbot of Xuanzhong Temple. In the twenty-sixth year of the Republic of China (1937), Zhengkong and Xuejun succeeded him. In the thirty-fourth year of the Republic of China (1945), the villages of Xiling and Peijiashan each took away one iron bell from the temple. In August of the thirty-fifth year of the Republic of China (1946), 70 iron Buddha statues were destroyed. The following October, residents of nearby Qizhu Village destroyed 145 more iron Buddha statues, five iron bells of various sizes, a 5-meter-tall iron pagoda, two iron lions, and seven iron chimes. In July of the thirty-eighth year of the Republic of China (1949), villagers from Geduo dismantled wood materials from the Thousand Buddha Pavilion and took beams, doors, windows, tables, benches, and plaques from various temple buildings, leaving the Thousand Buddha Pavilion in complete ruins.

In May 2013, Xuanzhong Temple in Jiaocheng was announced as part of the seventh batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Xuanzhong Temple was revitalized. In 1954, the Shanxi Provincial People’s Government allocated funds for the first time to build a stone bridge at the temple. From early 1955 to the end of the following year, the Mahavira Hall, Seven Buddhas Hall, Thousand Buddha Pavilion, East Zen Hall, West Reception Hall, East and West Stele Corridors, and the Archway Gate were rebuilt. An underground pipeline was also constructed to divert spring water from Longtan Gully west of the temple into the fish pond, along with the building of a simple road. In 1956, Monk Xiangli took charge of the temple. After his passing, Likong and Mingda succeeded him. During the Cultural Revolution, the temple suffered severe losses. In August and September 1967, it was twice besieged and looted by the Taiyuan “Fourth Field Combat Team,” with losses of ritual implements and valuables amounting to over 100,000 yuan. In August 1979, the Patriarch Hall was expanded, and new construction included a guest hall, reception room, and kitchen. In October 1982, the state invested 710,000 yuan to build a 4-kilometer-long fourth-grade highway. In 1985, the Thousand Buddha Pavilion was renovated. With seven major allocations of state funding, the temple was fully restored. There are now over 60 extant stupas, including 30 in the South Stupa Courtyard (17 identifiable: 1 from the Jin Dynasty, 9 from the Yuan Dynasty, 6 from the Ming Dynasty, and 1 from the Qing Dynasty) and 30 in the North Stupa Courtyard (7 identifiable: 2 from the Yuan Dynasty, 4 from the Ming Dynasty, and 1 built during the People’s Republic of China period). Among the current structures, apart from the Qiurong Pagoda which dates back to the Song Dynasty, all others were rebuilt during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Scenic Area Address: Northwest of Jiaocheng County, Shanxi

Best Travel Time: Spring, Summer, and Autumn

Opening Hours: 6:00 – 18:00

Scenic Area Ticket: Off-season: 15 RMB per person

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level