Baique Temple

Fahua Temple, also known as Baique Temple, is a historic Buddhist temple located in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province. The history of Fahua Temple can be traced back to the Southern Liang Dynasty, originally built in the first year of the Datong era (535 AD), nearly 1,500 years ago. The temple's establishment is linked to Daoji, a Buddhist nun of the Southern Qi Dynasty, who recited the Lotus Sutra day and night on this mountain for twenty years. After her death, she was buried here. Legend has it that a blue lotus suddenly grew from the niche where her remains were kept, prompting Emperor Wu of Liang to decree the construction of the temple, naming it "Fahua Temple." Fahua Temple is also known as "Baique Temple" (White Sparrow Temple) because white sparrows often circled Daoji while she was chanting, as if listening to the Dharma. This legend adds a touch of mystique to the temple. Fahua Temple has undergone several reconstructions and renovations. The existing buildings include the Mahavira Hall, the True Body Hall, and the Guanyin Hall. The Mahavira Hall, with its double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, is magnificent. The True Body Hall enshrines the true body of Daoji, and in front of the hall, there is a cliffside inscription of "Qinglian Ancient Stream." At the mountaintop, there is also the Wanghu Pavilion, originally built in the Tang Dynasty, offering panoramic views of Taihu Lake. Fahua Temple is not only one of the four most famous temples in Huzhou but also a renowned Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions. On Guanyin's renunciation day, enlightenment day, and ascension day, devout men and women from both sides of Taihu Lake come to offer incense and worship, making it a bustling place of worship. Fahua Temple suffered severe damage during the Anti-Japanese War, but it has been gradually restored in recent decades and has now become an important venue integrating religion, culture, and tourism.