Huzhou Iron Buddha Temple

　　The Iron Buddha Temple was first built during the Tianjian era (502–519) of the Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties period. Originally named Kaiyuan Temple, it was initially a nunnery. In the first year of the Wude era (618) of the Tang Dynasty, it was converted into a monastery. In the 26th year of the Kaiyuan era (738), it was renamed Kaiyuan Temple to enshrine an image of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. In the early years of the Qianxing era of the Northern Song Dynasty (the base pedestal of the Iron Guanyin is inscribed with the year 1025, the third year of the Tian Sheng era), a monk named Jianzhen cast an iron statue of Guanyin and placed it in the southeastern corner of Kaiyuan Temple (i.e., the eastern corridor of Kaiyuan Temple), and the area was called the Iron Guanyin Courtyard.

　　In the first year of the Xining era (1068), the temple was renamed “Shousheng Guanyin Chan Monastery.” In the 22nd year of the Shaoxing era (1152) of the Southern Song Dynasty, it became the “Guangfu Guanyin Chan Monastery,” housing the iron statue of Guanyin. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1368), the Guangfu Guanyin Chan Monastery was destroyed in war, leaving only the iron Guanyin statue. In the second year of the Hongwu era (1369) of the Ming Dynasty, the temple was relocated to its current site and renamed the Iron Buddha Chan Temple.

　　During a certain period (possibly the Cultural Revolution), the statues of Sakyamuni and two other Buddhas were burned, but the iron Guanyin survived due to its inability to melt and came to be known as the “Venus of the East.”

　　In 1978, the Iron Buddha Temple was renovated and restored. Several precious cultural relics were added, including the Tang Dynasty "Foding Zunsheng Tuo Luo Ni Scripture Pillar" from the third year of the Huichang era (843), originally housed at Tianning Temple, and a large stele inscribed by Zhao Mengfu of the Yuan Dynasty reading “Tianning Wanshou Chan Temple.” Additionally, a bronze bell made in the third year of the Japanese Hōei era (1706), weighing approximately 1.5 tons and standing 1.6 meters tall, was installed. There is also a more than 500-year-old white marble ancient well in the temple courtyard.