Fahui Temple

　　Fahui Temple is situated on Wutai Mountain in Shibao Village, Shibao Township, approximately 12 kilometers north of Xihe County. It is a renowned cave temple in Longnan. The temple gained fame across Longyou thanks to a poem left by the great Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu. In the second year of the Qianyuan era during the reign of Emperor Suzong of Tang (759 AD), troubled by the An Shi Rebellion and widespread famine in the Guanzhong region, along with oppressive taxation by local officials, Du Fu lamented, “My eyes see nothing but sorrowful affairs in life, so I travel relying on the kindness of others.” He angrily resigned from his official post (then serving as Sima Canjun) and set off westward to Qin Prefecture (today’s Tianshui) with his wife and children. After enduring a difficult journey, he traveled from Qin Prefecture to Tonggu (present-day Cheng County), passing by Fahui Temple along the way. There, he was captivated by the temple’s lush green bamboo swaying like phoenix tails, the verdant pine trees glistening with rain, the morning mist, the rising sun casting a glow on the rooftops, and the pristine windows clearly visible, their latticework resembling bright, affectionate eyes—so enchanting that he couldn’t help but linger. He then composed the poem “Fahui Temple.”

　　The area around Shibao, where Fahui Temple is located, features continuous rocky mountains with hues like crimson clouds and rosy dawn. The mountain range extends from the north down to the cold gorge of Changdao. Since the Han Dynasty, this has been a vital route from Qin into Shu. Hence, Zhuge Liang passed through here on his way to Qishan; Jiang Wei contested Longyou here; and Wu? fought the Jin people over Zaojiao here. As a result, many fortresses were built here, and the place is also called “Shibao City.” Since the Northern and Southern Dynasties, numerous caves and Buddhist statues have been carved here. The caves back against Wutai Mountain, one of whose ridges extends directly to the riverside, standing abruptly as if flying down from the sky—thus named “Flying-Down Mountain.” The mountain is over ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) high, with a circumference of about one li, and contains a stone well whose water never dries up throughout the year, known as “Treasure Spring Overflowing the Earth,” and is one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Xihe. The cave statues use Flying-Down Mountain as a gallery, divided between the southern and northern sides, with a total of 31 caves remaining—15 on the southern cliff and 16 on the northern cliff. Only 13 statues survive today, consisting of three types: stone carvings, stone-core clay sculptures, and painted clay sculptures. The cave shapes include rectangular, lotus-leaf, semi-circular, and center-character forms. The largest cave is No. 7, measuring 8 meters in both height and width, and 1 meter in depth. The smallest is No. 11, at 0.8 meters in both height and width, and 0.5 meters in depth. The northern cliff originally housed the main hall of Fahui Temple, built along the terrain with a grand structure. Now, three stone niches remain on the cliff face, 4 meters above the ground. Among them, the statue of Sakyamuni stands 6 meters tall. Inside the northern cliff’s Cave 16, there is a well-preserved statue known as the “Laughing World Buddha of Hanshan,” which is also 6 meters tall. It features an elaborate topknot, ears that reach the shoulders, an ancient and honest face, hands forming the fearlessness mudra, and an overall design that is rustic, weighty, majestic, and solemn. Fahui Temple lies close to the Yangshui River. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, buildings in front of the cliff were destroyed by floods. Later, when the Qixi Highway was expanded, some of the statues were also damaged, leaving only a few intact ones.

　　The current Fahui Temple has been relocated to Wutai Mountain in Shibao Township. Wutai Mountain features steep terrain, a commanding height, and precipitous peaks. Hence, “backed by towering summits, it resembles the landscape of Kongtong; with southwestern streams flowing directly into the source of the Han River” (inscription on the Fahui Temple stele). From here, both distant mountains and nearby waters stretch endlessly before the eye. The mountaintop is compact, with only one courtyard for the temple. Yet, the halls are lofty, the courtyards are spacious, and verdant pines and cypresses cast crisscrossed shadows. Vines and creepers embellish the surroundings, while unusual flowers and plants dot the paths—creating a distinctive atmosphere all its own.