Ancient Chongxu Taoist Temple

Chongxu Ancient Temple

Chongxu Ancient Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Chongxu Temple is situated at the southern end of Zhuming Cave on the northern foothills of Luofu Mountain in Guangdong. Originally, it was the South Hermitage — called Duxu — one of the four hermitages constructed by the Eastern Jin Dynasty Taoist Ge Hong. After Ge Hong attained immortality, in the early Yixi years (405 AD) of Emperor An of Jin, it was reconstructed into the Ge Hong Shrine as a memorial. During the Tianbao period (742–756 AD) of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, it was expanded and renamed “Ge Xian Shrine.” In the second year of Yuanyou (1087 AD) during the reign of Emperor Zhezong of Song, it was bestowed the name “Chongxu Temple.” Renovations were carried out in subsequent dynasties. The current structure was reconstructed in the 13th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1808 AD), making it one of China’s key national Taoist temples.

Chongxu Temple

With a total floor area of 4,400 square meters, the temple features a traditional quadrangle courtyard layout. Inside, there are five halls: the Lingguan Hall, Sanqing Hall, Wong Tai Sin Hall, Lüzu Hall, and Ge Xian Hall. The main complex consists of a platform, mountain gate, courtyard, Sanqing Hall, Ge Xian Shrine, side halls, and a dining hall. The mountain gate, Sanqing Hall, side halls, and dining hall all have flush-gable roofs, with a width of five bays and a depth of three bays, using a hybrid beam-frame structure of raised beams and through-tenons. The ridges, internal and external gables, and walls are richly decorated with extensive gray relief carvings, pottery sculptures, and murals, depicting figures, flowers, landscapes, antique motifs, and calligraphy, all of which hold high artistic value.

The Sanqing Treasure Hall is the main hall, rebuilt during the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty. The hall enshrines the three revered Sanqing deities, along with four Immortals: Zhang Daoling, Ge Xuan, Xu Xun, and Sa Shoujian. On both sides, there are exquisitely crafted shrines — the eastern one honors the Heavenly Lord of Thunder, the Nine Heavens’ Resounding Universal Transformation, and the western one the Supreme Lord of Salvation. The entire hall is adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, resplendent and magnificent.

The Wong Tai Sin Hall enshrines Huang Yeren, a disciple of Ge Hong. A native of Dongguan, Guangdong, Huang followed Ge Hong in practicing alchemy and Taoism on Luofu Mountain. One day, upon returning from an outing, he found that Ge Hong had ascended to heaven, leaving behind only one elixir pill. After consuming it, he became an earth-bound immortal, often appearing among people to cure illnesses. Later generations revered him as “Huang Daxian” (the Great Immortal Huang).

Today, many relics of Ge Hong remain. Behind the Ge Xian Hall is the alchemical furnace built by Ge Hong. Next to the furnace, there used to be an inscription by Su Dongpo reading “Ge Hong’s Alchemical Furnace,” but it has faded away. The current engraving “Zhi Chuan’s Alchemical Furnace” was rewritten during the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong era by Wu Hong, the Educational Commissioner of Guangdong. There is also an octagonal pool in the temple, known as Ge Hong’s “Herb-Washing Pool.” Historical records state that Ge Hong often collected medicinal herbs for the public, and this pool was where he washed them. The most miraculous of all is the “Longevity Well” within the temple, said to have been used by Ge Hong for drawing water during alchemy. This well never dries up, and its water is believed to have healing properties; in the past, it was known as “Immortal Water.” An ancient poem praises it: “Rumors say the earth offers treasure, and spiritual dew flows from phoenix grass. Drawing three liters each day, why seek the peaches of Anqi?” It suggests that regular consumption of this water can grant longevity, giving rise to the legend of trading one bushel of rice for one bushel of the water. This is one of Chongxu Temple’s “Three Wonders.”

The other two wonders are: despite being surrounded by large trees, no leaves fall on the roof of the main Sanqing Hall; and there are no spider webs inside the temple. These “Three Wonders” continue to intrigue many who seek to uncover their mysteries.

Nestled among lush pines and ancient cypresses, Chongxu Temple enjoys a serene environment and represents the essence of Luofu Mountain’s scenery.

On October 7, 2019, Chongxu Ancient Temple was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

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

Luofu Mountain 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. Its main peak, Feiyun Summit, … Luofu Mountain Management Committee detailed information++

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units