Xianying Temple, a thousand-year-old temple
Xianying Temple is located in Sanhuali, northwest of Huangdi Palace, Xinmi City, at the junction of Lulou Village and Ximazhuang Village, Liuzhai Town. It is connected to the Fushan corner of the remaining mountains of Songshan Mountain to the west, to the east is the famous Xuanyuan Huangdi Palace, to the north is the ancient Ximazhuang Xihuang cultural site, and to the south is Liujiamen where the tributaries of the Jishui River meet. With delicate mountains and rivers and beautiful scenery, it is a Buddhist resort famous throughout the ages. The Lingwu River flows in front of the temple from the northwest and northeast, and merges with the Wuding River to the southeast to enter Wuding Lake in Huangdi Palace.
According to the Records of Mi County in the 22nd year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty (1817), "Xianying Temple is located 25 miles east of the county. It was built in the 4th year of Xianping in the Song Dynasty (1001). "According to "Xinmi Place Name Legends" (2011 edition): "A Xianying Temple was built here in the fourth year of Xianping in the Song Dynasty. It was demolished in 1962 (due to the construction of a dam) and the monument is still there. The tall and ancient ginkgo trees (planted in the Song Dynasty) still lie on the site, but they were cut down that year. Only the beautiful legend will always be remembered in people's hearts."
Xianying Temple was first built in In the Northern Song Dynasty in 1001 AD, which has a history of more than a thousand years, historical data records: When Zhao Heng, the Song Zhenzong who admired Buddhism, was in power, there were two years of floods and three years of drought. The people were in dire straits, drowned and starved to death. Countless corpses are scattered in the wilderness, and the plague is prevalent. The local folk doctor Ginkgo and her husband Liu Suo collected herbs from all over the place, boiled them into soups, kneaded pills and prepared them to prevent and treat epidemics, saving thousands of people. They also set up bamboo towers and altars to offer sacrifices to the sky and pray for rain. When Emperor Zhao Heng heard this, he was filled with admiration, so he led hundreds of civil and military officials to leave Bian for Mi. He personally went to the altar here to burn incense and pray for good weather, peace and prosperity for the country and the people. Emperor Zhao Heng's sincerity moved the heavens, and rain fell all over the place this year. Moisturize the earth, and from then on the harvest will be plentiful, and the people will have enough food and clothing, and live and work in peace and contentment. Later, at the place where Emperor Zhao Heng climbed the bamboo tower, worshiped at the altar, and burned incense to worship heaven, people built the Xianying Temple where the sky manifested spirits and fulfilled people's wishes, and a ginkgo tree was planted outside the temple wall. This ancient ginkgo tree has gone through thousands of years, and its flowers have fallen and bloomed, witnessing the vicissitudes of Xianying Temple to save all living beings.
During the 25 years of his reign, Zhenzong Zhao Heng never forgot the aura of Xianying Temple. He went to Xianying Temple five times to burn incense and offer sacrifices to heaven, and allocated tens of thousands of silver coins and official land to Xianying Temple. The temple should be repaired and expanded. Until 1955, Xianying Temple was restored to its complete appearance and the incense continued.
The Xianying Temple in the Northern Song Dynasty was magnificent and magnificent. It is divided into upper temple and lower temple. The lower temple is located in the east of Xiaolizhai Village and on the west bank of Lingwu River. Both are five-entry courtyards. It flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. During the Republic of China, the lower temple was destroyed. The upper temple now retains the main hall, the east and west side halls, and a recently rebuilt main hall. There are six steles in front of the hall, two of which are from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the fourth are from donations from the recent period. The "Mi County Chronicle" of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty records: "Xianying Temple is located 25 miles east of the county. It was built in 1001, the fourth year of Xianping in the Song Dynasty."
The main body of the temple has been baptized by wars and disasters for thousands of years, and now there is not much left. In 2014, in order to restore the precious cultural heritage of the Central Plains, insightful people and local people mobilized social efforts and collected donations from the public to rebuild the Xianying Temple according to its original appearance.
Xianying Temple is famous in the Central Plains for its "effectiveness in offering incense and worshiping Buddha, and satisfying the demands of pilgrims." For thousands of years, it has attracted many faithful men and women to come to worship. There are still many legendary stories circulating among the people about people who came to Xianying Temple to offer incense, be promoted to officials, conceive children, and become rich.
At present, the Main Hall has been completed and other facilities are under preparation.
Attachment: Inscription on the reconstruction of the east courtyard of Xianying Temple
Xianying Temple is located thirty miles east of Xinmi and five miles south of Guanyin Hall, facing south. Facing Maji Ridge, with streams on both sides of the southeast, surrounded by trees and rows of willows, it has been a geomantic treasure since ancient times. According to the Gumi County Chronicle: Xianying Temple was built in 1001 AD during the Northern Song Dynasty, with a history of more than a thousand years of civilization. The temple is divided into east and west courtyards. It has majestic architecture, magnificent momentum, outstanding people, towering pines and cypresses, and prosperous incense. Its gods are experienced, and there is an endless stream of people praying for blessings for their children, resolving disasters, and for wealth and safety. As the temple has gone through many vicissitudes of life, it has fallen into disrepair and is dilapidated. In 2003 AD, Mr. Wang Chunhua determined to rebuild the Xianying Temple. After many setbacks and hardships, 300,000 yuan was raised from various sources and construction was undertaken by construction engineer Xue Yuanju. It took eight years and was completed in 2010. The courtyard covers an area of 600 square meters, with 24 halls and 24 statues of gods. In order to thank all walks of life and pilgrims for their dedication, this monument was erected to remember their contribution.
Written by: Xue Wenzhuo, Xin Mao Xiang Yue Zhong Huanhu Dan, 2011 AD