Baoji Temple on Mount Luofu

Baoji Temple on Mount Luofu

Baoji Temple on Mount Luofu is a cultural tourism attraction.

Baoji Temple on Mount Luofu is a Zen meditation site that gained fame as early as the Song Dynasty. A founding master once proclaimed: “Golden horses and silver birds fly freely; multicolored prayer flags return to Baoji.” This means: a thousand years later, cars and planes will race across the world, while the colorful auspicious prayer flags of Baoji Temple will wave to guide and benefit all sentient beings with karmic ties. The Caodong School is one of the five major schools of the Southern Chan (Zen) tradition, with its theories originating from the lineage of the Sixth Patriarch of Chan, Master Huineng, and further developed by Master Lingyou and his disciple Master Benxi.

According to the "Boluo County Annals," the ancient temple once housed an Imperial Book Pavilion, storing calligraphy works bestowed by Emperors Taizong, Zhenzong, and Renzong, as well as Buddhist robes granted in the Jingde era and the Jiaju Buddhist scriptures. Due to historical changes, Baoji Temple has long been destroyed, leaving only historical ruins.

Historical records indicate that Baoji Temple on Mount Luofu was established in 357 AD. It was named "Baoji Temple" because it is located on the wing of the constellation Zhen—part of the "Nine Peaks and Eighteen Temples" on Mount Luofu—and its shape resembles “a transformative cosmic pivot, weighing virtue and balancing phenomena, like an exalted sacred vessel.” After the Jin Dynasty, it became a center for Buddhist propagation in Lingnan, flourishing during the Sui and Tang dynasties. In 502 AD, the Indian Tripitaka Master Zhiyao came to the area, and in 705 AD, Indian monk Paramiti and Master Huaidi jointly translated the *Shurangama Sutra* at Guangjiao Temple in Guangzhou. They planted a bodhi tree and left a prophecy: 170 years later, the Sixth Patriarch Huineng would come to greatly propagate the Chan (Zen) school. In the first year of the Shenlong era (705 AD), Indian monk Paramiti and Master Huaidi jointly translated the *Shurangama Sutra*, leaving behind a celebrated piece of history.

Historical records (from 713–741 AD, during the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty) tell that monks from Baoji Temple offered mandarin oranges from the mountain behind the temple to court officials. Delighted by their exceptional sweetness, the officials presented them as tribute to the emperor, who named them "Imperial Garden Mandarins." As a result, Baoji Temple oranges were spread through court officials, literati, and poets throughout history. Currently, the Baoji Temple Management Committee is restoring orange cultivation to preserve and promote this cultural heritage.

Located to the left of Arhat Rock and east of Little Stone Tower, about 1.5 km from Yanqing Temple, Baoji Temple is described in the *Mount Luofu Annals* as follows: “During the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang (683–684 AD), Monk Huaidi founded it beside Zhuoxi Spring, naming it Zhongge Chan Monastery. Emperor Zhenzong of Song bestowed the name 'Baoji Temple' and inscribed Zhongge. Emperors Taizong, Zhenzong, and Renzong of Song granted books, and Emperor Zhenzong bestowed Buddhist robes, while Emperor Renzong granted the Buddhist canon (all now lost). In 1094 (the first year of Shaosheng during the Song Dynasty), Su Shi worshipped an Indian bronze Buddha statue at Baoji Temple.” In 1382 (the 15th year of the Ming Hongwu era), Baoji Temple and Zhongge Chan Monastery were merged into Yanqing Temple. During the Chongzhen era, Monk Shixu rebuilt Baoji Temple and unearthed iron statues of Masters Zhiyao and Jingtai. Over the centuries, the temple attracted numerous pilgrims and visitors. In 1955, Baoji Temple was destroyed.

After the reform and opening-up period, as China’s religious policies were implemented, efforts to restore some of Mount Luofu’s famous temples gained attention. In June 1995, reconstruction of Baoji Temple was approved by the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau of Boluo County People’s Government. Through extensive publicity and mobilization by Mr. Hu Chaojie and the preparatory committee, the project received strong support from people across society, religious figures at home and abroad, and devoted followers. After nine years of preparation and construction, the first phase of Baoji Temple—the Guanyin Hall—was completed and grandly consecrated on October 2, 2005 (the 29th day of the eighth lunar month). Work then began on the "Mahavira Hall." Construction of the Mahavira Hall officially started in June 2008, and the project has now been fully completed. Before followers stands another magnificent, resplendent Mahavira Hall built in the classic ancient architectural style.

Mount Luofu Management Committee: Since the Qin and Han dynasties, Mount Luofu has been known as the “Mountain of Immortals,” and has long held reputations such as “One of China’s Ten Great Taoist Mountains,” “The First Mountain of Lingnan,” and “Ancestor of the Hundred Yue Mountains.” It is revered in Taoism as the “Seventh Great Grotto-Heaven and Thirty-Fourth Blessed Land.” The great Han Dynasty literary figure Sima Qian regarded Mount Luofu as a famous mountain second only to the Five Great Mountains, referring to it as “Yue Mountain.”

Mount Luofu is a national scenic area and a national 5A-level tourist attraction, covering a total area of 214.82 square kilometers with 432 peaks, including over 80 peaks exceeding 1,000 meters in height. The main peak, Feiyun Top, is... More detailed information about the Mount Luofu Management Committee ++