Monk Dan Gui’s Tomb Pagoda

Monk Dan Gui’s Tomb Pagoda

Monk Dan Gui’s Tomb Pagoda is a cultural relic protection unit of Renhua County.

Monk Dan Gui’s Tomb Pagoda is located within Hailuo Rock in Danxia Mountain, Renhua County. Built in the 19th year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1680), it is a hexagonal solid stone tomb pagoda. The pagoda consists of three parts: the base, the body, and the finial, standing 2.2 meters tall. The hexagonal Sumeru pedestal is 0.75 meters high, with lotus petal patterns carved on its waist. The pagoda body is 1.09 meters tall, and the northern face bears an inscription in regular script, incised in relief: “Tomb of Monk Dan Gui, Founding Patriarch of Biechuan Temple.”

Dan Gui was the founding patriarch of Biechuan Temple. His secular surname was Jin, given name Bao, courtesy name Daoyin, and alias Weigong. He was from Renhe, Hangzhou, born in the 42nd year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1614). In the 13th year of the Chongzhen reign (1640), he passed the imperial examination and rose to the position of Minister of Personnel. After the fall of the Ming Dynasty, unwilling to serve the Qing, he shaved his head and became a monk, ordaining at Haichuang Temple in Guangzhou. In the 18th year of the Shunzhi reign (1661), Li Yongmao sent his younger brother Li Chongmao to Guangzhou to donate Danxia Mountain to Dan Gui. In the first year of the Kangxi reign (1662), Dan Gui led his disciples to construct and establish Biechuan Temple. He passed away in the 19th year of the Kangxi reign (1680) at the age of 66. During his lifetime, Dan Gui excelled in calligraphy and painting, was skilled in poetry and prose, and authored The Separate Biography of Lu Gong and The Collected Works of Bianxing Hall (both the former and latter collections).

In 1989, the People’s Government of Renhua County designated it as a cultural relic protection unit.