Tianlai Rock

　　Seven kilometers south of Loudi City on the southern bank of the Sunshui River lies Xian’nuzhai (Fairy Village), which stands at an elevation of 309 meters and covers an area of approximately 3 square kilometers. The mountain’s ridges resemble a fairy dancing in the wind. Legend has it that this is the place where the Third Fairy from Heaven became immortal. During the Southern Song Dynasty, the “Fairy Temple” was built on the northern slope of the main peak, hence the name of the mountain. On the southern slope of Xian’nuzhai, there is a natural karst cave. At the cave entrance, there is a large stone hall that can accommodate over a hundred people. To the right of the hall is a spring with clear water that never dries up throughout the year. The more you drink, the more it flows. Further inside, the cave splits into upper and lower sections. The upper cave is deep and mysterious, while the lower cave features seven chambers that lead directly to Zhonggután (Bell and Drum Pool) in the Sunshui River. Originally named “Xiaosa” (Carefree), the cave was also called “Shengyan” (Victorious Rock). During the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty, Longyin, an educational officer from Xiangtan County, visited Xian’nuzhai with others. He felt that the name “Xiaosa” did not match the cave’s form or sound poetic. “When we asked the monks on the mountain, none could explain,” so they discussed renaming the cave. Observing that the area “had no shortage of rocks or springs,” these “natural fragrant materials” produced tones under the influence of the wind echoing through the valley. “Struck, they produce harmony; brushed, they create sounds.” The carefree visitors sang and harmonized here, creating beautiful melodies together with the various natural sounds. Thus, “we offered a cup of tea to the mountain spirit through the monks and renamed the cave Tianlai Rock (Heavenly Sound Rock).”

　　At the entrance of Tianlai Rock, there was originally a nunnery, and about 200 meters east of the cave stood the “Donglin Temple.” Officials, gentry, commoners, literati, and artists frequently visited and left behind many inscriptions. Zeng Guofan, a prominent statesman of the Qing Dynasty, personally wrote the three characters “Tianlai Rock” as a gift. According to Loudi Daily, in 1927, Mao Zedong visited Tianlai Temple during his investigation of the peasant movement. He even composed and inscribed a poem on the temple wall: “Thousands of mountains stand tall, exhaling the aura of a rainbow; A long flute crafted by nature, not by man. The best place to cultivate one’s heart and mind, Where heaven gathers beauty envied by emperors.” As a result, the site gained fame and once saw the grand scene of “ten thousand worshippers by day and a thousand glowing lanterns by night.”

　　Later, the temples were gradually destroyed. In 1986, Zhang Shuliang, a retired elderly woman, came here to become a nun after receiving monastic precepts. With the Dharma name Shi Jiecan, she sold a property and used years of savings, raising over 100,000 yuan in total. She restored the nunnery at the cave entrance, placed statues of Guanyin and the Sacred Emperor inside the cave, and erected a statue of Zeng Guofan’s calligraphy “Tianlai Rock” at the center of the gate. She also embedded a couplet: “If you wish to burn incense, why journey far to the South Sea? If your heart is sincere in seeking goodness, this place is a sacred mountain.” Since then, the incense offerings resumed, and Xian’nuzhai became lively again. Every Sunday, on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, visitors flock here. Especially on February 19th, June 19th, and September 19th each year, tens of thousands of worshippers come to pay homage to Guanyin Bodhisattva. In 1997, over 1 million yuan was invested to construct the grand Mahavira Hall “Tianlai Temple” on the right side of the cave. It houses statues of Guanyin, the Sacred Emperor, and the Eighteen Arhats. The hall covers a construction area of over 500 square meters, stands 20 meters high, and is built in the classical palatial style with red walls, yellow tiles, double eaves, and upturned corners. In 1999, a dormitory of over 300 square meters was built next to the temple. On May 21, 2000, a grand ceremony was held at “Tianlai Temple” to celebrate the completion of the grand hall and the consecration of the Buddha statues. Leaders from the Provincial Buddhist Association, the Provincial Government Religious Affairs Bureau, the Municipal People's Congress, the Municipal Government, the Municipal CPPCC, as well as thousands of local tourists and Buddhists attended the event.

　　Nowadays, Tianlai Rock is not only a place of worship for devotees but also a rare scenic destination for the residents of Loudi.