Historical Context of National Key Temples in Jiuhuashan

Historical Context of National Key Temples in Jiuhuashan

The existing Buddhist temples in Jiuhuashan Global Geopark were first built in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and during the peak period of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the number of Buddhist temples reached 300 to 400. There are more than 104 existing temples, among which 9 are national key temples and 30 are Anhui provincial key temples. In addition, there are 75 abandoned temple ruins in the geopark. The distribution characteristic of these temples is that they radiate outwards with Huacheng Temple as the center over time.

The 9 temples in Jiuhuashan, namely Tiantai Temple, Flesh Palace, Zhantan Forest Temple, Zhiyuan Temple, Shangchan Hall, Huiju Temple, Huacheng Temple, Ganlu Temple, and Baisui Palace, are national key Buddhist temples in the Han Chinese area.

1.Huacheng Temple: Located in Jiuhua Street, it is the founding temple of Jiuhuashan and has the longest history; at the same time, it is also the bodhimanda of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and the "general monastery" of the temples in Jiuhuashan. It was founded by the Indian monk Beidu during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It was rebuilt during the Zhide period of the Tang Dynasty and named Huacheng Temple. "Huacheng" originates from a Buddhist story in the Lotus Sutra.

2.Flesh Palace: Originally named Kim Gyo-gak Pagoda, located at Shengguang Mountain. It was first built during the Zhenyuan period of the Tang Dynasty. The physical body of Kim Gyo-gak is buried here, commonly known as the Flesh Pagoda or Dizang Grave.

3.Tiantai Temple: Also known as Dizang Temple or Dizang Zen Forest. Located at the top of Tiantai Peak in Jiuhuashan, it is the highest temple in Jiuhuashan. It was first built in the Song Dynasty.

4.Baisui Palace: Originally named Zhaixing Nunnery, also known as Wannian Zen Temple, located at the top of Chaxiao Peak in Jiuhuashan. First built in the Ming Dynasty, it is one of the four major monasteries in Jiuhuashan.

5.Zhiyuan Temple: Also known as Zhiyuan Zen Temple, located in the northeast of Jiuhua Street, at the western foot of Chaxiao Peak. It is the only palace-style temple in Jiuhuashan, first built in the Ming Dynasty. During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, it was one of the eastern dormitories of Huacheng Temple in Jiuhuashan. It is one of the four major monasteries in Jiuhuashan.

6.Shangchan Hall: Originally named "Jingde Hall". Located halfway up the south of Shengguang Mountain. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty. During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, Zongyan newly repaired the hall, and it started to use its current name.

7.Ganlu Temple: Originally named "Ganlu Nunnery", also known as "Ganlu Zen Forest". Located under the Dingxin Stone halfway up the mountain. First built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, it is one of the four major monasteries in Jiuhuashan. It is currently the location of the Jiuhuashan Buddhist Academy.

8.Zhantan Forest Temple: Located in the southwest of Jiuhua Street. First built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, it was one of the seventy-two dormitory rooms of Huacheng Temple.

9.Huiju Temple: Originally named Huiqing Nunnery, it was first built in the Qing Dynasty. Huiju Temple is backed by high mountains and faces the bamboo sea, with a very beautiful environment. It is the largest Buddhist temple in the Minyuan area of Jiuhuashan.