Mingguo Temple

　　    Mingguo Temple was first built in 684 AD, during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian. The Republican-era *Qu County Annals* records: “The *Xi’an County Annals* from the Kangxi era states that the temple is located seventy li from the county, nestled among spiritually elegant mountain ridges and meandering streams, with Bowl Mountain standing prominently in front, its shape strikingly resembling a bowl. It is the oldest temple site, where Empress Wu Zetian herself inscribed the plaque. There is also a record of Bai Juyi’s Dharma Hall. The temple was the practice site of Zen Master Dacheng from the Tang Dynasty, and his lacquered cloth relic body is preserved here. There is also the Yuanhe Zhengzhen Pagoda, with an inscription by Yang Guangbi. The temple is now in ruins, with only one bell remaining. The *Xi’an County Annals* from the Jiaqing era records: In the sixth year of the Shunzhi era, Monk Xingshan came to Qu and established a hut here; in the fiftieth year of the Kangxi era, Monk Shuzan built the main hall; in the second year of the Yongzheng era, Monk Yongnian built the Kṣitigarbha Hall and Huilong Nunnery; in the twenty-eighth year of the Qianlong era, Monk Huiyuan rebuilt the main hall and Guanyin Pavilion; in the forty-fourth year, Monk Zipan built the lecture hall and abbot’s quarters; in the fourth year of the Jiaqing era, Monk Daode renovated the Guanyin Pavilion and built the mountain gate. The temple thus flourished again. At its peak, this temple was as bustling with incense as Jiuhua Mountain. Though now dilapidated, benevolent individuals still wish to donate for its restoration—alas, there is no capable monk to take charge of its stewardship.”