Qingshan Temple

　　Qingshan Temple is situated on the lush-green western side of Qingshan Mountain, 8.2 kilometers south of Jiaxiang County. It is an ancient architectural complex centered around the Huiji Gong Temple, covering approximately 6,000 square meters. Originally named the Jiao King Shrine, historical records from the old Jiaxiang County Annals state: “To the south of Wu, descendants of Shennong were enfeoffed in Jiao, and were commonly referred to as the Jiao King.” The first enfeoffment of Jiao was in Hongnong Shanzhou (now Shanzhou, Henan Province), but after receiving the title, the capital was moved to the foot of the eastern side of Qingshan Mountain in Jiaxiang. Today, there are Dongjiaocheng Village and Xijiaocheng Village to the east of Qingshan Mountain, with ruins of the ancient Jiao King City.

　　There are no records of when the Jiao King Shrine was first built. According to the “Record of the Reconstruction of the Huiji Gong Temple” by Zhao Hengzheng, a professor from Dongchang in the Yuan Dynasty: “To the left of the temple stands a stone stele from the first year of the Jian Ning era of the Han Dynasty (168 AD), which is now damaged and unrecognizable; to the right stands a stele from the Yong’an era of the Jin Dynasty, with its inscriptions worn and barely legible…” In 1102 (the first year of the Chongning era of the Song Dynasty), the Jiao King was posthumously titled Ningying Marquis; in 1121 (the third year of the Xuanhe era of the Song Dynasty), he was renamed Huiji Gong; the following year, the Jiao King Shrine was renovated and renamed the Huiji Gong Temple. After multiple renovations and expansions during the Ming and Qing dynasties, it finally reached its current scale. Because the shrine is located on Qingshan Mountain, locals commonly refer to it as Qingshan Temple.

　　Qingshan Temple faces west and is built along the eastern slope of the mountain, rising layer by layer in a skillfully designed and uniquely structured layout. Its grand halls and lofty pavilions are nestled among ancient trees and verdant cypresses, creating a spectacular scene. Viewed from the foot of the mountain, there are six tiers of structures along the central axis: the Mount Tai Palace Archway, the Three-Gate Entrance, the Huiji Gong Main Hall, the Sleeping Hall, the Mount Tai Palace, and the Jade Emperor Temple. On either side of the Huiji Gong Main Hall are auxiliary buildings such as the White Jade Palace, the Offering Hall, the Mother-and-Son Hall, the Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion, and the Guest Reception Hall of the Guan Di Temple.

　　The Mount Tai Palace Archway is located at the foot of Qingshan Mountain. It was built in 1638 (the 11th year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty) by Zhu Shouyong, the hereditary Prince of Lu from the Ming Dynasty, and is a three-gate stone structure modeled after a pavilion-style tower. The four stone lions carved on both the inner and outer sides of the central gate are exquisitely detailed and vividly shaped. Outside the central gate is inscribed “Mount Tai Palace,” while inside it is engraved “Yunlin Victory?ⅰ保?吮式【⒂辛ΑＡ讲嗝琶哦钌辖缘裼懈×?Ⅶ梓氲韧枷瘢?斗ㄦ凳欤?┟钗┬ぁＵ?龇欢ゾ?履局式ㄖ?问剑??穸饭啊⑿?蕉ァ?肺恰⑼呗ⅰ⑼叩薄???乇鹗侵忻琶哦钌厦嬉蛔椤懊髀惩踅??雇酢钡母〉瘢?鳌⒈觥⑵透骶咔樘??蜩蛉缟?Ｕ?雠品豢俺埔蛔楦竦骱托场⒓家站?康囊帐跗罚?薪细叩囊帐跫壑怠４犹┥叫泄?幌蚨?幸惶跎铰罚?蓖ㄈ?拧Ｈ?攀腔菁霉?淼拇竺牛?匦抻诠??90年 (the first year of the Chunhua era of the Northern Song Dynasty), and is a building with a gray-tiled hip-and-gable roof. The central gate has three bays, with one bay on each side for the side gates.

　　The Huiji Gong Main Hall is the principal structure of Qingshan Temple. It is built upon a 1-meter-high stone platform and underwent two major renovations in 1334 (the third year of the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty) and 1389 (the 22nd year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty). The hall is five bays wide, 17.3 meters long from north to south, 6 meters wide from east to west, and about 9 meters high. It features a hip-and-gable roof with five ridges, painted bracket sets, green tiles with decorative patterns, and a majestic appearance. Under the front eaves stand four tall stone pillars, all adorned with bas-relief carvings of flowers. The interior of the hall is richly decorated with carved beams and painted rafters, and murals. The original gilded statue of Huiji Gong, standing 2.5 meters tall, was housed within a tall red-lacquered carved shrine. In front of the hall stands a dragon-head stele built in 1929. An octagonal Jade Liquid Pool is constructed in front of the stele, with a diameter of 3 meters and surrounded by stone railings.

　　Behind the main hall is a mountain spring named “Ganying Spring” (Responsive Spring). The spring water flows through a hidden passage under the hall and gushes out from the dragon’s mouth at the base of the stele, flowing continuously all year round, sparkling like pearls and jade, and pouring into the Jade Liquid Pool. The pool never overflows even during prolonged rain, nor does it dry up in times of drought. Its waters are clear and green, offering visibility to the bottom. The spring and the pool are separated by the hall, and if not carefully observed, many visitors may not realize where the water comes from or where it goes. This magical sight is both a work of nature and a testament to the ingenuity of the builders. On both sides of the intricately carved dragon-head stele are inscribed couplets: “Misty mountain hues grace this earthly paradise; murmuring springs echo through this worldly paradise.” On the northern side of the stele is engraved a poem titled “Eighteen Joys of Qingshan” by Wang Junqing, a late Qing Dynasty scholar. Either side of the main hall is flanked by five-bay rooms, together with the Three-Gate Entrance, enclosing a small courtyard. Though compact, the courtyard is refined and elegant, dotted with standing stelae, murmuring springs, sturdy pines, and towering cypresses. Its unique and picturesque scenery captivates visitors, making them linger and forget to leave.

　　Other attractions in the temple include:

　　The White Jade Palace, located to the right of the Three-Gate Entrance, is a single-story, two-level pavilion where the White Lady from the Legend of the White Snake is worshipped. It was built in the late Qing Dynasty.

　　The Mother-and-Son Hall, also known as the Granny Hall, is located to the north of the Huiji Gong Main Hall. Built in 1598 (the 26th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty), it is a three-bay hip-and-gable style structure where the Goddess of Childbirth is worshipped.

　　The Guest Reception Hall is located in the south wing courtyard of the Huiji Gong Main Hall. It is a four-bay hall-style structure. Adorned with orchids and bamboos in front, it offers a serene and elegant atmosphere. It served as the residence for the presiding monks in the past and as a resting place for visiting monks and refined guests.

　　The Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion is located to the east of the Guest Reception Hall. It is a three-bay, two-story hip-and-gable style pavilion housing numerous Buddha statues.

　　The Guan Di Temple is located to the north of the Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion. It is a three-bay hip-and-gable style structure where Guan Yu from the Three Kingdoms period is worshipped.

　　The Sleeping Hall can be reached by passing through the Huiji Gong Main Hall, walking around the Ganying Spring, and ascending the stone steps on either side. The three-bay Sleeping Hall is built on a cliff that is higher than the main hall and houses statues of Huiji Gong and his two wives.

　　The Jade Emperor Temple is built atop the highest peak of Qingshan Mountain, featuring ornate bracket sets and flying eaves. The temple enshrines the Jade Emperor. Viewed from the foot of the mountain, it appears as though it is about to soar into the sky, surrounded by lush green trees and enveloped in mist.

　　Qingshan Mountain stretches several miles from north to south. In addition to Qingshan Temple, it is also home to ancient temples such as Fayun Temple and Puxing Temple. The mountain is covered with lush ancient trees numbering in the tens of thousands, along with numerous fruit orchards. In spring, the fragrance of blossoms fills the air, and in autumn, the scent of ripe fruits wafts through the forest. Truly, the mountain is not high but graceful, and the woods are not dense but serene.