Pufosi Temple

　　 Pufosi Temple was originally called "Sweet Dew Temple" and is situated outside the western city gate, nestled in a bend of the city wall. The temple is surrounded by water on three sides and connected to a road on one. To its south lies the Horse-Washing Pond, to the east are the Kangwang Bridge and Sima Bridge, to the west are the ancient cypresses of the western city and Zhuge Liang’s Reading Platform, and to the north are the military training ground and the Cooling Pavilion. With clear waters flowing all around, lush pines and cypresses, it presents a magnificent sight.

　　 Pufosi Temple was built during the Three Kingdoms period. Legend has it that at that time, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were active in the regions of Wu and Chu. One night during a military campaign, under a bright moon and cloudless sky, they suddenly spotted a pavilion ahead. As they rested there, Liu Bei suggested, “To strengthen our resolve to restore the Han and vanquish Cao Cao, and to establish peace and order in the nation, we should make a solemn vow.” Guan Yu and Zhang Fei readily agreed, and they decided to build a Sweet Dew Temple to fulfill this vow. At that moment, Guan Yu noticed a green ox carved from bluestone lying in front of the pavilion. He immediately raised his Green Dragon Crescent Blade and struck the ox, which split into two with a loud crack, symbolizing their unwavering determination.

　　 At the time, due to Cao Cao’s dominant power, Liu, Guan, and Zhang had no choice but to take Jingzhou of the Wu Kingdom as a temporary base. They recruited soldiers, gathered provisions, and laid the foundation for their future endeavors. Before long, Liu, Guan, and Zhang achieved military successes across the land, acquired many cities, and enlisted capable generals, leading to the flourishing of their cause. One day, they recalled the incident at the pavilion and felt their vow remained unfulfilled. At that time, Mianyang had not yet been established as a commandery and was still under the jurisdiction of Jingzhou. They thus decided to build a Sweet Dew Temple on the Biyan Terrace here to fulfill their promise. Later, Liu, Guan, and Zhang once encamped here, practicing martial arts and training troops.

　　In the late Northern Song Dynasty, when the Jurchen Jin army invaded the Central Plains, legend has it that Emperor Kang took refuge and hid in the Sweet Dew Temple. Later, after Emperor Kang ascended the throne in Yingtian Prefecture (present-day Nanjing), he did not forget the sanctuary the Sweet Dew Temple provided. In the first year of the Jianyan era, he built the "Kangwang Bridge" on the eastern side of the temple.

　　 In the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, Chen Youliang trained his troops near this temple. By then, the Sweet Dew Temple had fallen into disrepair. Later, two monks from the South China Sea came and restored the temple buildings, sculpted Buddhist statues, and renamed the "Sweet Dew Temple" as "Pufosi Temple." From then on, Buddhist teachings flourished, incense smoke curled into the air, and the halls shone brilliantly.

　　Since 1986, Pufosi Temple has undergone large-scale renovation. The eastern gate is the Kangwang Bridge, reinforced according to its original appearance. The southern gate is the "Mountain Gate," in front of which lies the Horse-Washing Pond, to the north is the Chai River, and to the west is a pastoral landscape. The newly built Mahavira Hall within the temple is majestic and grand, with six dragons reaching the sky, four corners gripping the roof, upturned eaves, flying rafters, and elaborately carved beams and painted rafters. Inside the hall stands a solemn statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. Behind the Buddha is an exquisitely crafted Thousand-Armed Guanyin. On the east and west sides are the Eighteen Arhats, each with unique expressions. To the north are the Four Heavenly Kings, along with lifelike sculptures of elephants and qilin. A towering spire over ten meters high stands prominently in front of the hall. An iron incense burner burns continuously. In front of the Mahavira Hall is the Heavenly King Hall, behind it are the Scripture Depository and the Chanting Hall. To the east is a Prayer Pavilion, and to the west are the Dining Hall and Guest Hall. The temple is surrounded by clear waters, with the fragrance of lotus refreshing the air. Currently, there are over ten eminent monks, nuns, and bhikkhus, with the abbot Nengsheng having received precepts in Nanjing and being well-versed in Buddhist teachings.

　　Pufosi Temple is a sacred Buddhist place dedicated to delivering all beings from suffering. "Fo" is the abbreviated transliteration of the Sanskrit word "Buddha," which translates as "Enlightened One" or "Wise One." The fundamental teachings of Buddhism include the "Four Noble Truths," the "Eightfold Path," the "Twelve Links of Dependent Origination," and others. It advocates following the Tripitaka (scriptures, discipline, and treatises), cultivating the Three Studies (precepts, concentration, and wisdom), with the ultimate goal of eliminating afflictions and attaining Buddhahood. It teaches the law of karma and encourages people to do good.

　　 Currently, the architectural scale of Pufosi Temple continues to expand, with flourishing incense offerings. It is the largest temple in Miancheng and has extended its influence to Xiantao, Wuhan, Tianmen, Honghu, and Jianli, making it a truly renowned Buddhist holy site within a hundred-mile radius.