Lishui Lingshan Temple

　　　　Lingshan Temple is situated on the outskirts of Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, in the Lingshan Scenic Area at the lower reaches of the Haoxi River, a tributary of the Oujiang River. It is directly accessible by Bus No. 8, offering convenient transportation. The temple is built halfway up the mountain, backed by Lingshan and facing the Oujiang River, with fresh air and beautiful scenery.
　　Lingshan Temple has a long history and has undergone multiple renovations and name changes. According to the "Ming Yi Tong Zhi" (Comprehensive Gazetteer of the Ming Dynasty), Lingshan Temple was built during the Five Dynasties period and was originally named Lingjiu. The "Lishui County Annals" edition from the Qing Dynasty's Daoguang era states: Lingjiu Temple’s year of establishment is unknown, but there is a stele from the 26th year of Yuan Zhiyuan (1289) that re-engraved the text from the 4th year of Song Chunxi (1177). Current historical research confirms that it was first built in the 3rd year of the Daxing era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (320, also the 3rd year of Han Guangchu), was destroyed by fire in the 3rd year of Jiande of the Northern Zhou Dynasty (574), and was rebuilt in the 6th year of Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty (633) as Lingjiu Temple, officially named Lingjiu Chan Temple. In the 2nd year of Jianlong of Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty (961), the monk Zhu Sheng from Dan Cheng, Shan Prefecture, renovated the temple buildings and added a new Guanyin Hall, renaming Lingjiu Chan Temple to Zhu Sheng Temple. Zhu Sheng, a native of Dan Cheng, Shan Prefecture, was a disciple of the renowned Southern Dynasties monk Sengyou. He was diligent in military studies and well-versed in Confucianism. During the Shengyuan era of the Southern Tang Dynasty, he passed the imperial examination and served as the Military Governor of Wuzhou. Refusing to submit to oppressive orders, he fled and took refuge in Lingjiu Chan Temple in Chuzhou. He was relentlessly pursued by the Imperial Guards and faced great danger—only after shaving his head and becoming a monk did he find safety. Gradually, life settled down, and he devoted himself to studying the Three Treatises, from which he grasped Buddhist principles, developed a Zen mind, and joyfully dedicated himself to spreading the Dharma. In the 2nd year of Jianlong (961), he was elected by the monastic community as the abbot of the temple and passed away in the 3rd year of Chunhua (992) at the age of 73.　
　　Lingshan, also known as Matou Mountain, was originally called Lingjiu Mountain. It is located in the northeastern part of the city, about ten kilometers from downtown. The mountain is not high, with an elevation of approximately 191 meters. Surrounded by green hills and layered peaks, it boasts serene mountain hues, with the waters of the Haoxi River flowing in front of it. The "Lishui County Annals" from the Qing Dynasty's Daoguang era records: “Lingjiu Mountain is twenty li east of the county, facing Bugu Mountain across from it. The Haoxi River encircles its front, with layers of... beside it, and the area is richly shaded. It is a famous scenic spot. There is a clear spring within.” The area is easily accessible, with National Highway 330 looping around both the northern and southern foothills of Lingshan, and City Bus No. 8 providing direct access.　
　　At the southern foothills of Lingshan, now under the jurisdiction of Yan Tou Village, Yanquan Subdistrict Office, Liandu District, lies the famous Haoxi Weir, built during the Tang Dynasty. The village gets its name from being at the source of the Haoxi Weir. During the Dazhong era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (847–860), Duan Chengshi, the governor of Kuozhou (from Linzi, Shandong), oversaw the construction of the Haoxi Weir. The Haoxi River was originally called the E River (meaning “Evil River”). To commemorate Duan Chengshi, who brought benefits to the people, the river was renamed Haoxi (meaning “Good River”), a name that has been passed down to this day. Today, a pavilion called Duan Gong Ting stands in the southeastern corner of Lingshan, built in honor of Duan Chengshi, the governor of Chuzhou during the Dazhong era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.　
　　During the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era, the poet Zeng Youyan (origin and life details unknown) composed the poem "Eight Scenic Spots of Lingjiu Mountain" to praise the beautiful landscape of Lingjiu Mountain. The eight scenes are: Xiyu Pavilion, Liuyun Wu, Luoquan Qu, Ban Yue Chi, Tuxing Gang, Jiuqu Ling, Wufang Ping, and Hongxie Yan. Xiyu Pavilion was built on Lingjiu Mountain by Liu Jing, the prefect of Chuzhou during the Northern Song Dynasty, and features a surviving poem. Liu Jing, styled Jujì and also known as Qianxi, was from Anyang, Jianzhou (in present-day Sichuan). He became a Jinshi (advanced scholar) in the 6th year of Song Xining (1073) and served as the prefect of Chuzhou in the 3rd year of Shaosheng (1096).
　　Xiyu Pavilion
　　The lonely city, covered in dust, busies itself in vain, unaware of the early autumn coolness in the serene temple.　
　　Through the winding forest, the sound of the chime carries three li; in the heavens, golden light fills the hall with moonshine.　
　　In the pure rice field, fish are caught from old wood; cold ashes stoke the fire, and tea fragrance wafts.　
　　At the foot of Boge Mountain, the stream sounds delightful, flowing into the human world with long-lasting rainy vibes.

　　Lishui City Lingshan Temple (6 photos)