Qixia Temple

Qixia Temple is located in front of Shoufo Cave under Qixingyan in the east of the city. It was named Qixia Temple in the Tang Dynasty, and the Mingshou Buddhist Temple (an nunnery) was rebuilt in Wanli in the Ming Dynasty. At that time, the temples were magnificent and elegant in structure, including Shanmen, Daxiong Hall, Zhunti Pavilion, Weituo Hall, Ananda Hall, Huanbi Hall, Xiuzhu Pavilion, White Lotus Pond, Free Life Pond, and corridors. Hun Rong (161-1708), whose surname was Zhang, was born in Yuanzhou, Hunan. He studied civil and martial arts since elementary school. He became a monk in Hengzhou because he was dissatisfied with the decadent rule of the Ming Dynasty. During the Southern Ming Dynasty, Qu Shisi and Zhang Tongchang, the famous generals of the Anti-Qing Dynasty, often gathered here to discuss state affairs. Out of concern for the country and the people, he once joined Liu Qijiao, a general in Guangdong, to offer advice and strategies to fight against the Qing army. After the fall of Hengzhou, he returned to the abbot of the temple. After Zhai and Zhang Ergong became benevolent, he collected the corpses in good faith, and built the Ergong Temple in the north of the temple, where he often recited "Hao Qi Chan"; in the south of the temple, he built the Tingyue Pavilion to express his longing for the Ming Dynasty. Later, the temple was completely destroyed by the war, only the mountain gate and its ruins remained. Now the abbot has repaired the part, which can be used for incense.