Longnan Bique Temple

　　Bique Temple is situated on the hill of Sitai Mountain in Guanyin Village, Xiyu Township, approximately 2 kilometers from the center of Xihe County. The temple is built along the mountain’s terrain, with Kongtong to its left, Huangcheng winding around its right, and Guanshan Mountain lying in the distance. The Bai Shui River, formed by the confluence of Jiangxi River and Nanliu River in front of the temple, meanders eastward at the foot of the temple. Here, pines and cypresses reveal their emerald hues in winter, while aromatic locust trees bloom in summer. Towering on the hill, Bique Temple overlooks both banks of the Bai Shui River. Covering an area of 13,936 square meters, roughly 20.6 acres, the temple complex traditionally consists of twelve courtyards — four main and eight minor — and now serves as the site of the Xihe County Buddhist Association. It is a provincial-level cultural heritage protection unit.

　　Bique Temple is a renowned Buddhist temple. Legend has it that Princess Miaoshan, the third daughter of King Miaozhuang of the ancient Xiyu Kingdom within Xihe County, renounced worldly wealth and devoted herself to spiritual practice at Bique Temple. Her father, attempting to force her return, set the temple on fire, resulting in the deaths of 500 monks and nuns and ten thousand worshippers, reducing the temple to ashes. Princess Miaoshan was miraculously saved by divine beings, eventually arriving at Xiangshan, where she endured many hardships, attained enlightenment, and dedicated her life to saving others.

　　“After the burning of Bique Temple,” over the course of dynasties and through the passage of time, the temple was rebuilt several times. According to ancient inscriptions within the temple, it was renovated during the Jiading era of the Southern Song Dynasty, and the current structures are wooden buildings dating back to the Qing Dynasty. It is said that in the late Qing Dynasty, two local gentry — Liu Daiyin from Liujia Gully and Lu Mao from Lushui Gully — made grand vows to restore Bique Temple. The current layout of the temple complex consists of twelve courtyards arranged as four major and eight minor ones, reflecting the style of that period. The design is majestic, rigorously organized, and ingeniously structured. During the Republican era, the military occupied the temple, using it to store provisions and establish schools, leading to the destruction of some Buddha statues. After the founding of the People’s Republic, the temple was repurposed as Bique Primary School and later as a vocational school, continuing in that function for decades. Following the restoration of religious policies, calls emerged to revive the temple’s original appearance. Monk Jue Xian, residing on the mountain, invited eminent monastics and benefactors to form the Bique Temple Restoration Committee, which undertook the refurbishment of this ancient temple, along with relocating Bique Primary School. From 1990 to 2002, after 13 years of restoration, the temple was completely renewed. Entering through the mountain gate, one finds four main courtyards in succession. Within these courtyards are halls such as the Zhenwu Ancestral Hall, Xiangshan Bodhisattva Hall, Sanqing Hall, and the Mahavira Hall. Flanking these four major courtyards are eight smaller courtyards, housing halls dedicated to the Heavenly King, the God of Wealth, the God of Literature, Monks and Nuns, the Goddess, the God of Thunder, the Earth Store Bodhisattva, the God of Fire, the Three Officials, and the Patriarch Bodhidharma. Of particular note is the presence of separate halls for male and female monks and nuns, believed to commemorate the more than 500 who perished at Bique Temple. The architectural ensemble of Bique Temple is the best-preserved in Xihe County, featuring upturned eaves, ornamental beasts, colorful dragon carvings, blue bricks, and tiles, all showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.

　　On the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, the birthday of Sakyamuni Buddha, Bique Temple holds a grand Bathing the Buddha ceremony. The main festival day falls on the twenty-second of April, attracting throngs of devout worshippers. During this time, the mountains are lush and green, flowers bloom fragrantly, and the air is fresh. The temple bell rings melodiously, accompanied by the sounds of Buddhist chants, offering visitors a transcendent and serene experience that refreshes the mind and spirit.