Huangshi Stone Cliff Temple

　　　　Location

　　　　Daming Lane, Shibi Temple Road, Yangxin County, Huangshi City, Hubei Province

　　　　Temple Introduction

　　　　Originally known as Shibi Nunnery, Yangxin Stone Cliff Temple was first built during the Jin Dynasty, boasting a history of over 1,700 years. The temple is commonly referred to as Monk’s Pagoda. Legend has it that in the early Ming Dynasty, a monk named Shi Qingning preached Buddhism here and was deeply revered by the people. After Qingning passed away, his body remained uncorrupted, lifelike, and at times emitted a fragrant scent. People were astonished and built a pagoda in his memory. In 1938, the temple was destroyed in war, leaving only the pagoda, hence the site being called Monk’s Pagoda by later generations. In 1992, after renovation and expansion, the temple covered an area of 50 acres and became the largest Buddhist center in Yangxin County, also housing the county’s Buddhist Association. In 1993, the county government listed it as a key open temple and a cultural relic protection unit.

　　　　Temple Layout

　　　　Located at the Longhu Mountain Pass in the northwest of the county town, Shibi Temple is flanked by scenic landscapes. To the left is the Qinglong Ridge, where layered rocks evoke the image of a dragon lying beside the lake, with clouds gathering overhead. To the right is the Baihu Nao, which presents a fierce presence, as if a tiger’s roar is about to burst forth. The temple complex includes three main halls—the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, and the Guanyin Pavilion—as well as a lay Buddhist hall, guest hall, dining hall, and scripture distribution center. The simple red walls, green glazed tiles, and elaborately painted beams and columns give the temple a classic traditional charm. Surrounded by green hills on three sides and shaded by trees, the temple faces a lake on one side, offering a vast view of clouds and water.

　　　　The Guanyin Pavilion is the rear hall of the temple. The couplet on its gate reads: “Sweet dew showers the heavens, revealing a pure body to preach the Dharma of equality; the compassionate boat ferries beings to the other shore with boundless power and miraculous abilities.” In the center of the hall stands a five-meter-tall golden statue of the Four-faced Thousand-armed Guanyin, seated gracefully atop a lotus throne. With kind eyes and a serene expression, the deity’s thousand hands are uniquely shaped, exquisitely carved, and incredibly lifelike.

　　　　Behind the dining hall on the left side of the Guanyin Pavilion, though small in size, lies a spring renowned far and wide as the “Spiritual Water.” It remains warm in winter and cool in summer, never drying up for thousands of years and flowing continuously through all seasons. Legend says that drinking the water fetched with a clean vessel after paying respects can cure all diseases. According to tests conducted by the Huangshi City Survey Bureau, the water contains over a dozen essential mineral trace elements needed by the human body, nourishing both body and mind, and promoting health and healing.

　　　　The central hall is the Mahavira Hall. Its plaque with gold characters was inscribed by Jia Yibin, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang. At the heart of the hall sits the majestic statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, flanked by eighteen arhats, each with distinct expressions.

　　　　The front hall is the Hall of Heavenly Kings. Upon entering, you’ll see a statue of the Laughing Buddha (Maitreya) sitting cross-legged on the dais, bare-chested and bare-bellied, wearing a kind smile and radiating benevolence. His round belly resembles a drum. The couplet on either side reads: “A big belly that embraces all, resolving countless worldly affairs; a heart full of joy, dispelling all sorrows throughout ancient and modern times.” The niches on both sides house the Four Heavenly Kings, each holding a wind ball, a precious lute, an umbrella, and a pagoda, symbolizing favorable weather and prosperity for the land. In front of the Hall of Heavenly Kings, a new Liberation Pond, bell tower, drum tower, and a 50-acre Lotus Park are currently under construction.