Fokong Temple

　　Fokong Temple is situated in Fokong Village, the easternmost part of Mayuan Township in Xihe County, approximately 40 kilometers from the county seat. It sits at the border area of Xi, Li, Hui, Cheng, and Tianshui, and is one of the rare temples in Xihe County ingeniously built upon the Danxia landform. Built along the mountain, with structures both on the hillside and at the summit, its layout is ingenious and its momentum majestic, earning it the name

　　“Little Maiji Mountain.”

　　Fokong Temple is also known as “Buddha Bundled Sutras.” Legend has it that when the Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang was returning from his westward journey to retrieve Buddhist scriptures, he encountered an old turtle at Tongtian River, which caused the scriptures to fall into the water. Under the protection and rescue efforts of Xuanzang and his disciples, the scriptures were salvaged and cleaned up at Fokong Temple, hence the name “Buddha Bundled Sutras.” The temple has a very long history. According to records from now-destroyed steles (some of which were buried beneath the foundation of the newly built theater stage at Fokong Temple during the Cultural Revolution), Fokong Temple was initially built during the Taihe era of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and then reconstructed in the third year of the Kaiyuan era under Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. This places its carving period around the same time as those of Dunhuang, Maiji, as well as the county’s Faxing Temple and Bafengya. This was a time when Buddhism was undergoing a revival and statue-making flourished.

　　Fokong Temple is built against Jinding Mountain, where Fokong Village is located. The rock formation of Jinding Mountain is red sandstone, a rare example of China’s Danxia landform features, standing about 400 meters high. Its shape resembles the famous Wei-Jin-era cave of Maiji Mountain in Tianshui, hence earning the nickname “Little Maiji Mountain.” There are over a hundred large and small caves on the cliff, with the main peak featuring four tiers of caves carved from top to bottom, housing statues of various deities and Buddhas. The lowest level of the cliff caves is particularly deep, with solemn halls and a grand atmosphere. Temples have been built along the front of the caves, arranged in a well-spaced, picturesque manner. To the left, there is a spring named “Dragon Eye,” with crystal-clear and abundant water that never dries up throughout the year. In the courtyard, there is a slanting cypress tree with lush green branches as fresh as new. It is said to have been planted by a Tang Dynasty monk. The mountaintop can be reached by winding around the back side of the mountain, through secluded paths that twist and turn. The slopes are dotted with exotic flowers and lush grass. At the highest point, trees intertwine, vines hang from cliffs, and one may occasionally spot pheasants and eagles. Looking out in all directions, the golden shimmer of the Mayuan River, misty mountain villages, and rural houses stretch out as far as the eye can see. In recent years, local residents have gradually restored the temple’s former layout. The mountain gate and Buddhist pavilions have been renovated, and every year on the 15th day of the third lunar month, a temple fair is held at Fokong Temple. Merchants and tourists from all directions come to celebrate, enjoy the scenery, and bask in the festive lights and lively atmosphere.