Chongqing Hot Spring Temple

　　The Hot Spring Temple was originally a branch of the Jinyun Temple. It once had splendid architecture, abundant stone carvings, and a bustling incense culture. After suffering severe damage during the two Buddhist persecutions under Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou and Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty, it was rebuilt during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Tang Dynasty. Cliffside Buddha statues were also carved into the rocks at the back of the mountain. In the fourth year of the Jingde era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1007 AD), the temple was officially bestowed the title "Chongsheng Chan Monastery" by the imperial court. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Hot Spring Temple enjoyed its golden age. The temple buildings were renovated, and a Guest-Reception Pavilion was constructed in front of the temple, while a square-shaped pool measuring four zhang on each side was built behind the temple and covered with a pavilion. Regardless of weather conditions, visitors could bathe in the pool. Utilizing the hot spring water source and the terrain, attractions such as the Fish-Playing Pond and Half-Moon Pond were created for sightseeing.

　　In February 1259, Möngke Khan arrived at Diaoyu City in Hechuan. Having conquered vast territories with unmatched military prowess, Möngke found himself unable to breach the defenses of Diaoyu City under the fierce resistance of its commander Wang Jian and deputy commander Zhang Jue. In July 1259, Möngke was wounded by cannon fire from the city and later died at the Hot Spring Temple.

　　As a branch of the Jinyun Temple, it was established in the first year of the Jingping era of the Liu Song Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties (423 AD). After the establishment of the Dongyang Commandery during the Qi Dynasty, the temple flourished briefly with bustling incense offerings, magnificent halls, and many stone carvings. It suffered serious damage during the persecutions by Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou and Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Tang Dynasty, Zen Master Jingman of Yougu reconstructed the temple and carved cliffside Buddha statues into the rocks at the back of the mountain. In the first year of the Qianfu era of the Tang Dynasty (874 AD), Monk Hongji oversaw another round of renovations. According to *A Record of Famous Sites in Chongqing* by Wang Xiangzhi of the Song Dynasty: “The Hot Spring Temple was established during the Qianfu era of the Tang Dynasty.” Tang poets such as Chen Yubai, Wang Wei, Du Fu, and Li Shangyin all visited or stayed at the Hot Spring Temple. Sikong Tu wrote a poem here: "The mountain’s form and earth’s veins are naturally cool, / Not bringing rain, yet offering thermal springs. / Herbs, fish, and turtles bask in the warmth, / Outshining even pagodas and monastic halls."

　　In the fourth year of the Jingde era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1007 AD), the Hot Spring Temple was bestowed the title "Chongsheng Chan Monastery" by the imperial court. Chancellor Ding Wei visited and composed a five-character regulated poem titled *Visiting the Hot Spring Temple*, which includes the lines: “Guests leave fresh verses, / Leisurely folk recite old prose.” This reflects that many literati and scholars of the time left poems here. Historical records from the *Chongqing Prefecture Annals*, *Bishan County Annals*, and *Ba County Annals* all mention the temple as having “countless inscribed poems” and “stone tablets covered in poetry.” Between the Jingde and Dazhong Xiangfu eras of the Northern Song Dynasty, local official Peng Yingqiu stayed overnight at the Hot Spring Temple on his way to taking up a post in Hezhou. He wrote a five-character regulated poem on the temple wall titled *Spending the Night at the Hot Spring Buddhist Temple*: “Official duties afford no idle days; / By chance, I rest in this serene place. / I sense monks know no worldly woes, / Free from the anxieties of mortal life. / Hot springs echo in the ancient cave, / Cold temple bells drift past the high tower. / I forget sleep till dawn, / As if in the blissful land of Mount Wozhou.”

　　In the first year of the Jiayou era (1056 AD), Neo-Confucian scholar Zhou Dunyi, serving as an official in Bayuan Commandery, moored his boat at Wentang Gorge and read this poem. He was full of praise and composed a preface that was engraved on a stone tablet erected in the Hot Spring Temple, creating a poetic anecdote in the temple’s history. 163 years later, in the winter of the 12th year of the Jiading era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1219 AD), Chongqing Prefect Tuo Xingshan rediscovered the long-lost stele. Treating it as a priceless treasure, he had it replicated, added his own colophon, and included it in the *Collected Works of Zhou Rongxi*.

　　In the first year of the Kaixing era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1259 AD), Möngke Khan, the Great Khan of the Yuan Dynasty, led his army in the attack on Diaoyu City in Hezhou. He died at the Hot Spring Temple from injuries sustained by cannon fire. The *Hezhou Annals* from the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty recorded: “The Great Khan of the Yuan Dynasty was struck by cannon blast and fell ill. On the retreat to Choujun Mountain, his condition worsened... Later, passing through Jinqian Mountain and Wentang Gorge, he passed away.” From then on, the name of the Hot Spring Temple was recorded in official history.

　　The Ming and Qing dynasties marked the golden age of the Hot Spring Temple. During the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty, the temple underwent reconstruction. A Guest-Reception Pavilion was built in front of the temple, and a square pool measuring four zhang was constructed behind it, covered with a pavilion so that visitors could bathe in all weather. Leveraging the hot spring water and terrain, attractions such as the Fish-Playing Pond and Half-Moon Pond were created for sightseeing. At this time, the temple was thronged with worshippers and tourists. There were civil and military officials, poets and artists, monks and laypeople… All came to admire the mountains and waters, compose poetry, and write prose. Poet Liu Daokai wrote after visiting: *Hot Spring Temple*, with the note at the end: “Located between Ba and Hezhou, it is the second of the Three Gorges.” The poem reads: “Cliffs embrace the imperial abode in seclusion; / The deep gorge and dense woods offer tranquil space. / A few tall pines host wild cranes; / A warm pool teems with sacred fish leaping. / The monks offer no wine at their white-roofed hall; / Guests read by the green beans to their heart’s content. / The purity of Shu’s paths is true wealth; / After the drumbeat, none remains as before.”

　　The *Ba County Annals* of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty recorded: “Climbing up the winding stone steps from the riverbank leads to the Hot Spring Temple. Towering cliffs, twisted ancient trees, clouds emerging from the rocky roots, springs gushing out through fissures, harmonizing with the pine winds, with crystal-clear water free of sediment or sulfur smell. In the past, people built a square pool about four zhang wide in front of the flowing springs, covered with a pavilion, allowing bathing even in the depths of winter... The spring flows around the towering cliffs, converging into a large pool in front of the Mahavira Hall. In the boiling water, green algae sway, and red fish swim, then turn back along the corridor to the mountain gate, where the cliff forms a waterfall, cascading like flying jade and snow through the clouds, arguably the finest among all hot springs.” The *Chongqing Prefecture Annals* noted: “The Chongsheng Hot Spring Temple lies southwest of the gorge, covered in inscribed stone tablets and poems.” The *Bishan County Annals* stated: “Springs gush out like boiling soup, perfect for bathing, attracting many inscribed poems from visitors.” To this day, over ten Ming Dynasty stone poem tablets and dozens of poems remain. From the Ming Dynasty to the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, the Hot Spring Temple thrived. It had vast lands, many monks, and was the wealthiest in the region. There was a saying: “Three thousand at the hot springs, eight hundred at the Zen monastery, and monks of the Firwood Garden were not to be trifled with,” showing just how powerful it was.

　　The existing Hot Spring Temple buildings date from the Ming and Qing dynasties, divided into four main halls: the Guan Yu Hall, the Guide Hall, the Great Buddha Hall, and the Guanyin Hall. During the Ming Chenghua reconstruction, it had one gate and three halls. In the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, the mountain gate was converted into the Guan Yu Hall, and in the Tongzhi era, the Guanyin Hall was rebuilt as the Iron Tile Hall.