Qingshan Stone House Temple

　　The Stone House Temple is situated at the northern foot of Qingshan Mountain, 10 kilometers from the county town, in Guoqiao Village, Zongyang Town. It gets its name from an oval-shaped huge rock that stands upright, resembling a house. During the Jin Dynasty, Zen Master Qinggong built a temple here. In the Yuan Dynasty, Daoist Pei Xian practiced alchemy here. In the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty, Monk Yuantai from Western Shu renovated the Stone House Temple, and a incense pavilion was built in front of the temple. During the Cultural Revolution, the Buddhist statues were destroyed, and the halls were repurposed as dormitories for workers of the Qingshan Forest Farm. In 1984, the abbot of the temple, Monk Zhenda, repaired the Stone House Temple, which now consists of two halls and six meditation rooms. Currently, Monk Xiude serves as the abbot.

　　Dà Qīngshān (Great Green Mountain) is located in Guoqiao Village, Zongyang Town, 16 kilometers east of Zongyang County Town. A single peak stands tall, and the mountain is dark green in color, hence the name “Qingshan” (Green Mountain). It connects to Fushan Mountain to the north and overlooks Jiuhua Mountain to the south. With its verdant mountains and picturesque waters, it is like a painting. Here, the grass stretches endlessly, wildflowers bloom along the paths, streams babble, and mist curls gently. There are deep caves such as the Golden Rooster Cave and Tiger Cave, and uniquely shaped rocks including Gongshi (Drum Rock), Gushi (Drum Rock), Yingzuishi (Eagle Beak Rock), and Shizi Shi (Lion Rock). From the mountaintop, one can gaze into the distance: to the south, the mighty Yangtze River flows ceaselessly; to the north, Bai’dang Lake spans vast blue waters; and to the east and west lie Shenling Sai Lake and Gengkuai Sai Lake nestled closely beside. As the saying goes, “The water is like a green silk ribbon, the mountain like an emerald hairpin.” It is a natural green treasure trove.

　　The mountain boasts 16 famous scenic spots: the Splendid Stone House, the Bodhisattva’s Imprint Palm, the Jade Cave Hiding Spring, the Hidden Dragon and Spiritual Spring, the Crow Waiting for Guests, the White Donkey Turning Millet, the Prime Minister’s Poem, the Immortal’s Chessboard, the Thundering Stone Drum, the Golden Rooster Crowing at the Moon, the Black Tiger Patrolling the Mountain, the Immortal’s Inscription on the Stone Pillar, the Lion Lying in the Clouds, the Warmth of the Elixir Pool in the Sun, the White Clouds Welcoming, and the Phoenix among the Phoenix Trees and Bamboo. Especially during spring and summer, visitors flock here, enchanted by the scenery. However, the most iconic attraction of Qingshan is its “Splendid Stone House.”

　　On the sunny side of the main peak, a massive flat rock seems to have descended from the sky. Several zhang high and dozens of meters wide, it resembles a giant palm stretched forward, supported by a thick natural stone pillar below. Legend has it that during the Ming Dynasty, when the Jiuhua Mountain Earth Store Bodhisattva rode the clouds to pay homage to the Huguo Hermitage on OU Mountain, the weight of his body caused OU Mountain to be unable to bear the pressure. The Bodhisattva had to rest the other foot on Qingshan Mountain, accidentally kicking the massive rock down. It rolled down and was caught by the sturdy stone pillar below, coincidentally forming this “stone house.” The rock still bears the imprint of a footprint, about one and a half feet long, deeply and realistically etched—this is the “Bodhisattva’s Imprint Palm,” one of the sixteen scenic spots of Qingshan. Inside, the top is flat like a roof, and the bottom is broad like a hall, covering an area of about 200 square meters. It remains warm in winter and cool in summer, suitable for sitting, lying, strolling, or residing—truly a “Jade Cave Hiding Spring”! Interestingly, the cave walls produce different musical tones when tapped: the eastern side sounds like a leather drum, while the western side resonates like a copper gong.

　　In the early years of the Jianyuan era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the eminent monk Qinghong Zen Master traveled here and, delighted by the stone house, made it his hermitage. He carved Buddha statues on the walls and devoted himself to studying Buddhist scriptures. Later, he raised funds through alms and expanded the temple outside the stone house, naming it the “Qingshan Stone House Temple.” In the early years of the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty, Monk Yuantai from Western Shu rebuilt the temple, and its incense grew increasingly popular, earning it the reputation of the “Little Jiuhua of Qingshan.” Over time, it experienced periods of prosperity and decline but has continued to this day, with the Buddha statues still present and the sound of Buddhist chants echoing afar. The temple originally had three halls; the two restored sections are Qing Dynasty architecture. Six stone tablets preserved between the temple walls document the temple’s construction history and the trials it has endured.

　　Successive abbots of the Stone House Temple were all well-versed in literature and knowledgeable in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. During the Republican era, Monk Zhenda served as the abbot. In addition to his devotion to Buddhist studies, he also practiced traditional Chinese martial arts and traditional Chinese medicine, embodying compassion and high moral character. During the revolutionary war years, he became close friends with local leaders of the Communist Party, often risking his life to shelter revolutionaries and contributing to the liberation cause. Behind the left wing of the temple is the “Dragon’s Hidden Spiritual Spring.” Legend says that Master Zhenda, in order to solve the local community’s drinking water problems during droughts, searched far and wide for a spring source and eventually dug this spring out himself at the foot of a bamboo grove. The spring water flows year-round, tastes extremely sweet, and is celebrated in a poem: “The dragon hidden for ages beneath unyielding stone, Master Zhenda shattered the dust. Since then, the Buddhist land knows no drought, a clear spring stands by the well.” The “Dragon’s Hidden Spiritual Spring” thus became one of the sixteen scenic spots of Qingshan.

　　In ancient times, Qingshan was also a place of Taoist practice. Legend has it that during the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty, a Taoist priest named Pei, known as the “Immortal,” practiced Taoism in the stone house. Crows cleaned his courtyard, and a white donkey turned millet to provide his food—these are the tales of “Crow Waiting for Guests” and “White Donkey Turning Millet.” Behind the stone house, shaded by trees and filled with the fragrance of flowers and birdsong, there was a “Danjing Well” (Alchemy Well), where the Immortal practiced alchemy. It is said that later he attained enlightenment and ascended to heaven on Huigong Ridge to the north of Qingshan.

　　In the late Ming Dynasty, the Tongcheng scholar Yao Kangbo established a school and taught disciples near the stone house, promoting Confucianism. He Shuorong, one of Yao’s favorite students, also built a study near the Stone House Temple. He later passed the imperial examination in the Wanli era, became a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Rites, and rose to the position of Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall. He left behind a cliff inscription on Qingshan: “Firm clouds fall to the earth, pavilions crown the mountain peak; immortal seclusion and Buddhist dwellings reach ancient heights. I carve a few words on the cliff edge, so future generations may recognize the past.” Known as the “Prime Minister’s Poem,” it became a unique scenic attraction. Other notable individuals who studied at the stone house include Zuo Guangdou, the Left Censor-in-Chief; poet Qian Chengzhi; and poet Wang Zhuo. Calligrapher Fang Shoudun and writer Yin Xisheng also left poetic inscriptions and calligraphy on Qingshan.

　　The residents around Qingshan are predominantly from the He clan, hence it is also called “He Clan’s Qingshan.” The He Clan Ancestral Hall at the foot of Qingshan was initially built in the mid-Qing Dynasty, featuring typical Huizhou architectural style, and is a well-preserved rural cultural relic to this day. The deep-rooted history of the clan fostered a tradition among the He Clan of Qingshan that valued literature and education. A diligent and rigorous academic culture has been passed down through generations. Starting with He Haiyu, who ranked first in the imperial provincial examination and was appointed magistrate of Qixia County in Shandong, the He Clan began to rise. He Haiyu’s second son, He Roushen, and youngest son, He Roushou, both passed the imperial examination in the Wanli era, elevating the He Clan to a distinguished and influential family, producing many talented individuals. During the Republican era, He Qizhong, secretary to Feng Yuxiang, became the first mayor of Beiping City. He Zicheng, a renowned educator in central Anhui, was deeply influenced by educator Tao Xingzhi and dedicated himself to rural education, authoring numerous works and nurturing countless students. His grandson, He Simai, as a sophomore at Anqing No. 1 High School, won a gold medal at the 33rd International Mathematical Olympiad, marking an outstanding achievement for China since it first participated in the IMO in 1985.

　　With its unique charm of water and mountain spirit, Qingshan has become a scenic gem on the northern bank of the Yangtze River. Like a warm and simple courtyard, it greets visitors from all directions, opening its doors in the morning breeze and sunshine.