Taihu Temple

　　   Taihu Temple, also called Taihu Chan Temple, is situated in Taihu Mountain National Forest Park in the southern part of Hanshan County. It is one of the key temples in Anhui Province and is named after the Taihu Mountain area. Through renovations over the dynasties, Taihu Temple has developed into a sizable temple complex. From the mountain gate to the summit’s Tiantai (Heavenly Terrace), there is an axis along which the Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Ersheng Hall (Hall of Two Saints), Dragon King Hall, and Tiantai are arranged. On the northern side of Taihu Mountain lies Jieyin Nunnery, built halfway up the mountain, in a very tranquil environment.

　　   Taihu Temple was founded in the second year of the Yuanyou era of the Song Dynasty (1079 AD, note: original text says 1709, likely a typo), by the eminent monk Wuyong Chan Master. According to The Biographies of Eminent Monks, at the time of its founding, Master Wuyong single-handedly cleared the land day and night until he was blessed with a heavenly lamp shining down upon him. Master Wuyong was not only the founder of the temple but also the author of The Recorded Sayings of Patriarch Wuyong, which has been passed down to this day (Provincial Religious Chronicles). In the third year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1370 AD, note: original text says 1307, likely a typo), Monk Xingqing rebuilt the temple. Further constructions were carried out in the eighth and twenty-fifth years of the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty (1882 and 1899). Monk Puming of the Qing Dynasty expanded the temple, which was then also called Puming Chan Temple. Over the years, the temple buildings were built and abandoned, and the abbots changed frequently. In 1927, Abbot Hongrui took charge of Taihu Chan Temple. By the end of 1938, the 27th year of the Republic of China, the Japanese army burned down most of the temple buildings and killed one monk. In 1957, the temple had ten monks, with frequent visits from wandering monks and vegetarian cooks. During the Cultural Revolution, scriptures and Buddha statues in the temple were destroyed. After the reform and opening-up, religious policies were gradually implemented, and monks returned to the temple. Taihu Mountain features Bell Mountain, Drum Mountain, and Wooden Fish Mountain. Inside the temple, there are wonders such as the Indoor Pagoda and the Stove-Edge Well. Taihu Temple faces south and is situated amidst the natural landscape of a bell on the left, a drum on the right, and a wooden fish embraced within. The Heavenly King Hall is at the front, the Mahavira Hall is in the center, and the Patriarch Hall is behind it. In the center of the Patriarch Hall stands the flesh-body pagoda of Master Wuyong. Made of stone and standing 4 meters tall with a base diameter of 2 meters, it is thus called the Indoor Pagoda or Puming Pagoda. Thanks to its solid structure, it survived through turbulent times and is one of the two wonders of Taihu Chan Temple.

　　   In the dining hall on the west side of the Patriarch Hall, there is a well known as the Indoor Well or Stove-Edge Well. Legend says it was created by Patriarch Wuyong using his tin staff to strike the ground, hence it is also called the Tin Staff Spring. The spring water in the well never runs out no matter how much is drawn, yet does not overflow if not used — it is another wonder of Taihu Chan Temple. About one li behind the temple, in the mountains, there is a hall called Ersheng Hall (Hall of Two Saints). The hall is three bays wide, enshrining the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva in the center, and houses an incense burner from the Xuande era of the Ming Dynasty and a chime from the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty. These artifacts are now scattered among the public. The Tiantai Chan Temple is located halfway up the main peak of Taihu Mountain, consisting of Tianlong Pass, Dragon King Hall, and Mahavira Hall. Inside the Dragon King Hall, a clear and sweet spring continuously flows from the mouth of a stone dragon, hence called Dragon Spring. The Mahavira Hall features a massive naturally formed inverted heart-shaped rock. Even more remarkable is a bowl-sized lingzhi mushroom growing on the right side of the inverted heart rock. This spot was once the resting place of the eminent monk Wuyan Xiankuan. The spiritual essence of the entire mountain is said to be concentrated here, leading to the saying, “If you haven’t been to Tiantai, you haven’t really visited.” Surrounded by mountains on all sides, with a murmuring stream in front and lush forests behind, Tiantai Chan Temple enjoys a serene environment.

　　   Jieyin Nunnery, facing Taihu Chan Temple across the mountain, is a key cultural relic protection unit of Hanshan County. To the west of the nunnery are twin springs whose water never runs dry no matter how much is drawn. In front of the nunnery stands an ancient tree, 13.5 meters tall, with graceful and elegant branches. The Buddhist temples of Taihu Mountain are densely distributed, laid out rationally, built along the mountain terrain, and form a distinctive temple complex. Their architectural style resembles that of Jiuhua Mountain, hence they are also called the “Little Jiuhua of the North.”