Humanities and History of Shangrao Lingshan Scenic Area

Lingshan is a holy land for Taoism and Buddhism. Taoism lists it as the 33rd blessed place in the world. "Xinzhou Prefecture" calls it "the mountain of faith". It is a famous folk religious mountain with great influence in Jiangnan. Hu Zhao, Ge Hong, Zhang Daoling, Zhang Jiyuan, Liu Taizhen, Li Desheng, Zen Master Songyue and others all stayed in Lingshan to practice Buddhism, recruit disciples and preach. The Lingshan Stone Man Hall has a history of more than 1,800 years. Shangrao dignitaries and historical celebrities who lived in Shangrao (in seclusion), such as Wang Zhenbai, Han Yuanji, Xin Qiji, Xu Yuanjie, Xia Yan, Zheng Yiwei, Gao Ming, Wang Gengyan, Jiang Shiquan, Xu Qian, etc., left more than 300 memories for Lingshan. An excellent first article. Among them, Xin Qiji of the Southern Song Dynasty praised Lingshan for "stacked peaks galloping to the west, thousands of horses circling, and mountains eager to go east", "majestic, profound and elegant, just like the article Tai Shigong". Lingshan is full of beautiful scenery." Contemporary poet Feng Xuefeng praised Lingshan as "a magical mountain, an unyielding mountain, and an alluring mountain."

(Album source) The Stone Man’s Hall was built during the Jianwu period of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It is engraved with the words mentioned by Xia Yan, the prime minister of the Ming Dynasty: "Xinjun County is an unparalleled blessed land with beautiful water and wonderful mountains. It is the first place in the south of the Yangtze River to protect the people and protect the country." Famous Gods" and the great scholar Zheng Yiwei's couplets such as "facing the back to the eternal stone and the human heart to be immortal, bowing to stand for eternity and the eagle's martial spirit is as alive", the incense in the temple is prosperous, and has lasted for more than a thousand years since the Tang Dynasty. Every year on the first day of the ninth lunar month On the tenth day of the lunar month, villagers from the four provinces of Fujian, Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi gather here, with tens of thousands of visitors every day. In addition to the Shiren Hall, there are many ancient buildings, ancient ruins, stone carvings and plaques in Lingshan. Among them, the ones with greater influence include Shiren Ancient Street, Shiren Temple Fair, Wangxian Qiaotou Ancient Village Site, Huangchao Rebel Army Ancient Battlefield Site, and Red Army Laoyajian Battlefield. Ruins, Dongshan rock paintings, Zhu Xi’s handwriting "Loyalty, Filial Piety and Housekeeping" and other attractions.

Relevant works include "Lingxi Collection" by Wang Zhenbai of Tang Dynasty, "Dongquan Diary" by Song Hanhu, and "Meiye Collection" by Xu Yuanjie, all of which are included in "Sikuquanshu". Ming Dynasty Zheng Yiwei's "Lingshan Zang", Zheng Rikui's "Wanglingshan" and "Lingshan Yilu" compiled by the county people, and a large number of poems and essays written by Qing Cuiping San people, etc., show the scenery of Lingshan. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, there were countless works of literature, drama, music, art, photography, paper-cutting and other works showing the scenery of Lingshan. Yu Jianbo's "Lingshan Terraces", Li Tugen's "Lingshan Scenery", Xie Mingrong's "Minghu Morning Song", Yang Xuegui's "Lingshan Sleeping Beauty", Qiu Jingdeng and Guo Zuomin's "Lingshan Cedars", etc. Lingshan has attracted literati from all dynasties since the Han and Tang Dynasties to come for sightseeing, and some of their literary works have been handed down. There are hundreds of masterpieces created by Wei Zaichang of Tang Dynasty, Anshi, Xin Qiji, Lu You, Han Yuanji, Jiang Kui of Song Dynasty, Xia Yan, Xia Shangpu of Ming Dynasty, Gengyan of Qing Dynasty, etc. During the Anti-Japanese War, the famous literary theorist Feng Xuefeng composed "Lingshan Song" in a cell in the "Shangrao Concentration Camp". Lingshan is one of the famous Taoist cave heaven blessed places in the country. The twenty-seventh volume of "Yunji Qizhu" "Blessed Land" records: "Lingshan is located in the north of Shangrao County, Xinzhou, and is governed by Mo Zhenren." It is listed as the 33rd blessed place in the world. In the Tang Dynasty, Taoism was respected as the state religion, and 99 palaces, temples, and palaces were built successively. Taoism was extremely prosperous during the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Taoist temples were expanded in various places, and more and more Taoists were practicing. After the Ming Dynasty, Taoism declined day by day. By the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, there were only 70 palaces, temples and temples left in the county, and the number of Quanzhen Taoist priests was decreasing day by day. During the Republic of China, only the Shiren Hall still had Taoist pilgrimage activities. Quanzhen Taoist priests who practiced Taoism and made elixirs were rarely known. Only Zhengdao priests were scattered throughout the country, dedicated to exorcising ghosts and subjugating demons and saving the souls of the dead.

The rise and fall of history

Lingshan Taoism has a long history, more than 1,700 years ago. This religion began in the late Han Dynasty and reached its peak in the Tang and Song Dynasties. After the Ming Dynasty, it gradually declined. By the Republic of China, only the Shiren Hall of Quanzhen Taoist temples remained, and Quanzhen Taoist priests were rarely known. Although the Zhengyi sect is not as prosperous as before, there are still many Taoist priests whose profession is to save the souls of the dead and exorcise evil spirits. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, as the scientific and cultural level of the people improved, the Taoist priests in rural areas had nothing to do and turned to business and farming to make a living.

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, during the disputes between the Three Kingdoms, Hu Zhao, a famous scholar in Yingchuan, Henan, lived in seclusion in Luhun Mountain and devoted himself to Taoism. Cao Cao repeatedly hired Zhao as Zhongshu Ling, but Zhao politely refused, and quietly went south, hiding in Yangzhen Rock at Baigu Peak in Lingshan Mountain, where he continued to learn Taoism, collect herbs and make tea, and make elixirs in furnaces to relieve the illnesses of the people in his hometown. In 251 AD, Zhao died without illness. The villagers said that Zhao had attained enlightenment and became an immortal, and built a temple and statue to worship him. Zhao focused on his own cultivation and did not accept disciples to teach. However, after his death, he was granted many titles by the emperor and had a great influence. Liu Taizhen, Li Desheng and other court officials who believed in Taoism later became immortals in the temple, so he was the founder of Lingshan Taoism.

Hu Chao, Hu Zhao's nephew, also named Huilian, followed Zhao south and practiced in hiding at Yongbi Peak in Lingshan Mountain. Chao came from a rich family, and under the influence of his uncle, he devoted himself to enlightenment. When he was young, he traveled to famous mountains and rivers, and was taught the art of immortality by a Taoist priest, and the method of opening a hub by an eminent monk. After the death of Zhaoxian, Chao Yingtao changed his name to Huilian, and his name was Buxu. He continued to practice at Yongbi Peak and helped the villagers eliminate evil spirits and treat diseases. After Chao's old age, he disappeared without a trace. The villagers said that he had become a fairy in the flesh, and his traces were found all over the country. As the stories of Hu Zhaobo and his nephew spread throughout the world, more and more people began to practice Taoism in various caves and peaks of Lingshan Mountain.

At the same time that Hu Zhaobo and his nephew were hiding in Lingshan to learn Taoism and practice, there was a Taoist who was traveling around Lingshan and saw the beautiful scenery in the south of Dongtai Peak. Several caves were distributed in a Tai Chi pattern, which made it convenient to build a hut here to practice and recruit disciples to teach. After the death of Taoist Zhide, his disciples raised funds to build a Taoist temple and named it Zhide Palace. After the Taoist temple was built, the number of Taoist disciples increased and the Taoist temple was expanded accordingly. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, Taoism in Zhide Palace was extremely prosperous, with more than a hundred Taoist disciples and a Taoist temple construction area of ??more than 3,000 square meters.

During the Eastern Jinping Period (357-361), Ge Hong traveled around Lingshan. He first chose Qilin Peak to build a lodge to preach. Due to insufficient water resources, he later chose Ge Xian Peak as his site, built a lodge to refine elixirs, and accepted disciples to preach. Hong wrote a book called "Baopuzi", which explains the way of immortality. Disciples of all generations who studied under Ge Hong practiced according to Ge Hong's method of divine guidance, practiced medical skills, and treated diseases of nearby villagers. Later, Ge Hong's disciples built Taoist temples all over Lingshan and recruited disciples to teach. Lingbao Taoism flourished for a while.

From the Jianwu period of the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Yuanhe year, Zhang Daoling, the founder of the Zhengyi sect, founded the religion in Longhu Mountain, Guixi. Taoist followers of this religion can marry, eat meat, pray for blessings and subjugate demons, and receive rewards for saving the souls of the dead. It is actually a profession to make a living. Therefore, the number of followers of this religion is increasing, and they can be found in major villages in the Lingshan area. Although there are " Under the influence of "Repress Taoism and Promote Buddhism", the Zhengyi Sect continued to flourish, and its activities continued until the Republic of China.

Taoism in the Lingshan area began in the Eastern Han Dynasty and flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties. The Tang Dynasty revered Taoism and named Laozi Emperor Taishangxuan. The Tao Te Ching and others were regarded as true scriptures. During the reign of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty, there was a drought in various cities, so Liu Taizhen and Li Desheng were ordered to worship Hu Zhao and pray for rain, and they successively erected them in the Hu Zhengjun Temple. After the death of Liu and Li Xian, together with Hu Zhao, they were both granted the title of general by the emperor, and the Yinjun Temple was changed into the General Temple. From then on, the Shiren Hall flourished for more than a thousand years. The Song Dynasty respected Taoism, with Zhenzong and Huizong as the most popular. Hu Zhao was named Lingzhuhou, Lingzhuweijihou, Lingzhuweijixianhui Zhengyou King, Liu Taizhen was granted the title of General Zhushun, and Li Desheng was granted the title of General Zhuling and Xiji Hongdao. Protecting the country and Chongxing True Lord, Hu Huilian conferred the title of True Heavenly Master Hu Zhenren of Zijidong in Xuantan. According to the "Yundian" of the Tang Dynasty, there were 99 palaces and temples in Shangrao, most of which were built in the beautiful peaks and valleys of Lingshan Mountain. In the Yuan Dynasty, Taoism lost in sectarian disputes, and Shangrao Taoism suffered a heavy blow and began to decline. Taoism continued to decline in the Ming Dynasty, with only two Taoist temples remaining in the region. The Qing Dynasty continued to "promote Buddhism and suppress Taoism". In addition, the Taoist priests lived in poverty and could not see the immortals. Most of the Taoist priests continued to return to secular life, or abandoned Taoism and converted to Buddhism. It is decreasing day by day, and those who continue to be active are mostly superstitious professionals.

Famous Taoist Temple

Shiren Temple: In the first year of Taikang in the Western Jin Dynasty (AD 280), we were ordered to build Zhengjun Temple under Shiren Peak to honor Hu Zhao, commonly known as Hu Yinjun Temple, also known as Hu Yinjun Temple. It is called Shirenfeng Temple. In the sixth year of Tang Zhenyuan (AD 790), Liu Taizhen and Li Desheng came to the temple to enjoy goods one after another. A statue of him was placed in the temple together with Hu Zhao to worship him. During the Xuanhe reign of the Song Dynasty, the emperor bestowed the title of "Eagle Protector" on the temple area. Because Li Desheng was the general who was supported by many of his disciples, it was known as the General Li Temple. During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, Li Desheng was granted the title of Chongxing Zhenman, the protector of Xiji Hongdao and the country: it was called the Stone Man Hall. The Shiren Hall has a huge building complex, majestic momentum, many Taoist disciples, and has a far-reaching reputation.

Zhide Palace: It is located on a platform on Dongjiao Mountain south of Dongtai Peak in Lingshan Mountain. In the late Han Dynasty, Zhide Taoists built palaces and practiced Taoism here, and there were many Taoist disciples. Later, it was expanded by successive Taoists. The Taoist temple was divided into two halls, front and rear, which were extremely majestic. There were several fallen buildings on both sides, which shows its prosperity at that time. There are Taijiyan caves behind the palace, and there are more than ten acres of paddy fields around the palace. Later, Taoism declined and was converted into a Buddhist temple. It was prosperous for a while with as many as a hundred monks. Today, the Taoist temple has been abandoned, but the ruins, stone slabs, stone mortars, stone incense burners and old Taoist tombs still exist. Religious activities

The Buddhist religious activities in various temples and nunneries in Lingshan mainly include morning and evening homework, merit classes, and pilgrimage to the mountains. In order to raise funds, small temples have activities called night disaster relief.

Morning service: Every early morning, all the monks in the temple gather in the Buddhist hall, put on their clothes and carry utensils, beat drums and sing incense, and do morning service in shifts. The first monk in the group started to burn incense to the Buddha statues in the temple, and then the group knelt down in front of the hall and chanted scriptures collectively.

The characteristic of chanting sutras is the unity of chanting and singing, with wooden fish and bronze chimes hitting the points. Morning classes end at dawn.

Evening class: After eating the evening meal and beating drums, all the monks in the temple gather together in the Mahavira Hall to do the evening class, which lasts about 2 hours. The content and method are roughly the same as the morning class.

, to save the souls of the dead; to do prayers for the village, praying for peace and good weather in the world. After 1979, open temples also began to conduct merit lessons for donors.

Going to the mountains to offer incense: Going to the mountains to offer incense is a grand annual religious activity in Buddhist temples. The period of pilgrimage to the mountains varies from temple to temple, and generally lasts for the birthday of Buddha, Maitreya, and Guanyin, ranging from three days to seven days to ten days. Most of the faithful men and women from all over the country choose a leader in a village and form an incense-promoting organization, commonly known as an "incense association". Eat fast and abstain from sex before setting off. When setting off, wear clean clothes and line up under the guidance of the flag. There are ceremonial guards in the incense gathering: holding umbrella covers, carrying plaques, holding Buddhist robes, setting off firecrackers, and playing ten rounds of gongs and drums, which is very lively. When entering the mountain gate, they are greeted by monks who know guests in the temple. Pilgrims use incense and turn paper to worship the Buddha statues and pray for disaster relief. When they come to the Guanyin statue, female pilgrims pray to Guanyin to send their children. They pray for confession in the Main Hall and pray to the Buddha for guidance. Pilgrims hand over the wishes (money and things) they made during the previous year's pilgrimage to the monks in charge of the temple, and the pilgrimage is basically over. That night, various incense guilds sang in the Main Hall until dawn.

Call at night: also known as "dating watch". In the old days, temples with few monks held night activities in order to raise funds. It is called Night, that is, the temple sends monks, wearing linen clothes and straw sandals, carrying a Maitreya Buddha statue on their backs and holding wooden fish in their hands, to chant sutras along the village late at night, and the forty-nine nights end. After the night call is over, the night call monk carries the Buddha statue and goes door to door to chant sutras and collect money and rice for alms to finance the expenses of the temple.

Famous temples

Tianxin Temple: located at the top of Yuanshan Mountain in Wangxian Township. Before the Ming Dynasty, it was Yuanshan Nunnery, and its founding date is unknown. In the twelfth year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1584), Fuliang monk Rulun traveled here and saw the round peaks like cup coverings, beautiful scenery, and more than ten acres of paddy fields and dry land. In the eleventh year of Emperor Kangxi's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1672), Tianxing Temple was expanded again and was renamed Tianxin Temple because of the "Tianxin Zen Forest" written by Emperor Kangxi on the temple area. After the reconstruction, Tianxin Temple is extremely prosperous, with many monks and an endless stream of worshipers. He once ran a classics school with more than 20 teachers and students, specializing in studying and teaching Buddhism. In 1930, the temple was destroyed by war, and only the plaques of "Tianxin Zen Forest" and "Relic Hall" remained. In 1949, a small courtyard was rebuilt, and in 1986, the main hall was rebuilt to worship Tathagata and other Buddhas, and lay people lived in the temple to manage it.

Shicheng Temple: Located in the center of the Shicheng Mountain platform south of Lingshan Zengfeng. The platform is surrounded by mountains on three sides and looks like a city, hence the name Stone City. Legend has it that a nun in the Eastern Han Dynasty stayed in the hut here to learn Zen. After his death, a pagoda was built to store his ashes. The local residents called the thatched hut Shicheng Nunnery. In the early Tang Dynasty, an eminent monk from Putuo Mountain traveled here. He was amazed that such a blessed place existed in the world, so he built a temple named Shicheng Temple. The temple has three halls, and ancillary buildings such as towers, platforms, pavilions, and pagodas are scattered in an orderly manner. After more than ten years of operation, the temple has an area of ??1,000 acres, and as many as 100 monks, making it a prosperous temple. It was renovated in the 33rd year of Qianlong (1768). During the Jiaqing period, Wang Gengyan, the prefect of Guangxin, personally selected Miaoji as the host and inscribed "Miao Ming Qing Qing" on the forehead of the temple. The temple was in its heyday, with as many as a hundred monks. During the Second Civil Revolutionary War, all the temples were destroyed. Only the stone stele erected in the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, the Zhishou Pagoda erected in the 9th year of Shunzhi (1652) of the Qing dynasty, and the life-releasing stele erected in the 33rd year of Qianlong's reign (1768 AD) remained. And the stone pillars are engraved with the couplet "The sun rises and the sun shines forever, the moon appears in the clouds and the longevity lantern". In 1997, disciples of Sanbao raised funds to rebuild the ancient temple. In 1999, the Mahavira Hall was completed, with a construction area of ??765 square meters. The main hall enshrines the Tathagata and other three giant Buddhas, with the Buddha Manzhu, Samantabhadra, Cihang and the Eighteen Arhats on both sides. According to relevant information, the ancient temple is under reconstruction. It is planned to build five main halls including the Emperor, Three Saints, Guanyin, Gajju, and Ksitigarbha, as well as ancillary buildings such as Zhaitang, dining hall, office room, hotel, and stupa. It covers an area of 50 acres, with a total construction area of ??10,000 square meters.

Jizhao Yuan: "Shangrao County Chronicles·Temple Views" written by Tongzhi of the Qing Dynasty states: "It was built in Shiren Township during the Chunhu period of the Song Dynasty." Later abandoned.

Baiheshan Temple: Located at Baihe Peak, a branch of Lingshan Mountain in Qingshui Township. During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, there were often groups of cranes soaring on the top of the mountain. The temple was built and named after the white crane. Statues of Buddha and white cranes and immortals are placed in the main hall. Jiang Shiquan of the Qing Dynasty wrote "Crane Accompanying Ciyun" on the forehead of the temple.

After the temple was completed, it became very prosperous and there were many pilgrims. It was later destroyed and repaired three times due to fire, and the last one was built in 1996. The new temple was built due to the mountain topography. It has three grand halls ascending the stairs, which are majestic and majestic. They still house the statues of Buddha and the White Crane. The forehead of the temple written by Jiang Shiquan is still prominently embedded in the mountain gate.

Fengding Courtyard: Located in the valley below Yingzui Peak on the right side of Shiren Peak, it was built in the Ming Dynasty and flourished in the Qing Dynasty. The temple is majestic, has many monks, and has rich temple properties such as 1,000 acres of mountain farm and 40 acres of paddy fields. During the decline of the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, a monk surnamed Wang (also known as Wang Zhaigong) served as the abbot of the temple and was also in charge of the Lingjiu and Lingfeng nunneries. The ruins still exist today and have been rebuilt into the "Jinshi Villa", with green trees and beautiful scenery, and are often visited by tourists.

Hengfeng Temple: Located on Hengfeng, a branch of Lingshan Mountain in Qingshui Township, it is the first temple leading from the county seat to Lingshan Mountain. The year of its construction is unknown. In 1707 AD (the forty-sixth year of Emperor Kangxi's reign in the Qing Dynasty), a monument was erected for the temple, which was called an ancient building and dedicated to the statue of Skanda. There is a tea shop outside the temple for drinking by passers-by, which is called Tuas Tea House. In the fifth year of Jiaqing, it was renamed Hengfeng Temple. In 1991, Mrs. Lingyue took charge of the temple affairs, remodeled the Buddha statues, added a thousand-jin copper bell, and the incense flourished. In 1990, "Qingxi Wonderland" was embedded in the forehead.

Baiyun Temple: Located at the foot of Shiren Peak, it is located in Heaven. The year of its construction is unknown. It was very popular during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with dozens of monks. In 1872 AD (the eleventh year of Tongzhi), Cheng Shijun, a Jinshi scholar, erected a monument for the temple, then it was destroyed and a new temple was built in Tiantang Natural Village.