Baojue Temple

　　Baojue Temple was originally named Baojue Wanshou Temple and is commonly known as the North Temple or North Altar. It is a Chinese Buddhist temple situated about three li to the northeast of Linxia City, backed by the northern hills and west of the renowned Tomb of Minister Wang. It is one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Hezhou.

　　Legend has it that the temple was first built during the Northern Wei Dynasty and was later reconstructed during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty by Duke Yuchi Gong of the State of E. The temple houses a thirteen-story pagoda, twenty zhang high, which has a history of over 1,300 years. Over the dynasties, many eminent monks emerged. In the eighth year of the Jiading era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1215 AD), which was the third year of the Zhenyou era of Emperor Xuanzong of the Jin Dynasty, the Huayan School abbot Ruiyun (also known as Master Foguang) raised funds to build a Buddhist stupa. The octagonal, solid thirteen-story pagoda stands twenty zhang tall and enshrines fifty-three Buddha statues in its niches. It was named the “Ruirong Foguang Pagoda.” Curved corridors encircle the pagoda. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the Linji School monk Miyun presided over the temple. In the thirteenth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1380 AD), it was expanded by the abbot Banma Shilajianzang. The monastery consists of seven courtyards, including the Heavenly King Hall, Arhat Hall, Maitreya Hall, Mahavira Hall, Guanyin Hall, Reclining Buddha Hall, and a scripture depository housing over 5,000 volumes of scriptures. There are also numerous monastic dwellings. In the twenty-sixth year of Hongwu (1393 AD), the Office of the Monk Superintendent was established here to oversee the Qingyi monks. At that time, the temple enjoyed great prestige and was one of the most famous Chinese Buddhist temples in Longdong, attracting endless streams of worshippers.