千年银杏醉人眼
The Wenshu Academy in the Yunqi Valley Scenic Area is adjacent to the scenic spots of Yaoshan Mountain and the Great Buddha of the Central Plains. Backed by the An Ku Tuo Mountain at an altitude of over 1100 meters, also known as Wenshu An Ku Tuo Temple. On both sides of the Tuoshan Mountain at the Ankuo, there are eighteen hills that lean forward in a straight line, called "Eighteen Arhat Worship Manjusri". In front of the temple, there is an elephant lion guarding the gate on the second mountain, and on the left, the elephant mountain is vividly visible (Xiangshan, also known as the Mount of Pu Xian. It is said that the elephant is the mount of Pu Xian Bodhisattva); The Lion Mountain on the right side is lifelike (Lion Mountain, also known as Manjushri Peak. It is said that the lion is the mount of Manjushri Bodhisattva).
The millennium old temple is surrounded by towering mountains, with peaks resembling blooming lotus petals. The academy is located in this natural lotus pot. In front of the academy, there is a long stream of clear water, surrounded by lush forests and bamboo, accompanied by waterfalls and flowing springs, making this renovated, magnificent and magnificent ancient temple colorful. The gate of the ancient temple faces the opposite Luohan Mountain from afar. There are four rare stones on the Luohan Mountain, which are lifelike in shape: one is like a monk kneeling down to Manjusri Bodhisattva, and two are like a monk sitting with palms folded and chanting Buddha. Looking west from the front of the temple gate, there is a strange mountain not far away, like a tall and solemn Luohan sitting there facing the temple, which is clearly visible. Whenever spring is full of branches, the mountains are verdant, the mountain flowers are blooming, and the blooming azaleas branch by branch and the flowers are layered, like a paradise in the world; In the midsummer season, there are towering emeralds everywhere, with a deep and solemn green color, fresh air, and a cool climate, making it a summer resort; The autumn wind blows, the forests are dyed, the mountains are covered with red leaves, the branches are covered with fruits, and there is a refreshing and nourishing fragrance everywhere; Until snowflakes fall, silver wrapped, crystal clear, like a fairy tale like world.
Suitable for wild and pleasant scenery, thousands of mountains rise and fall again. Good peaks change everywhere, and secluded paths wander alone. Frost falls, bears rise trees, and deer drink streams in the forest. Where are people? A rooster outside the clouds. "The artistic conception of Song Dynasty poet Mei Yaochen's" Lu Shan Shan Xing "is abundant in Lu Shan, and the most typical one is none other than this.
The ancient temple is lush with pine, cypress, and ginkgo trees. The 2800 year old ginkgo tree is the treasure of the Yunqi Valley scenic area and is known as the "World Tree King". Five ginkgo trees, three in front and two in back, three females and two males, are connected in a patch, with a height of 30-40 meters. The smallest tree is a female tree with a circumference of 5 meters, and the largest tree is a male tree with a circumference of 8.2 meters. Despite going through many vicissitudes, it still has lush branches and leaves, especially in the golden autumn season. The trees are covered in golden yellow, and from a distance, it looks like a huge Zen robe enveloping the temple. On the east side of the front row, there is a ginkgo tree with two crowns connected together, and a small tree grows at the root. At first glance, it looks like three trees growing side by side, so the tree is called the "couple tree" and "Gongsun tree". The winding branches of the ginkgo tree are intertwined, the trunk is like a giant warrior, and the crown is shaped like a giant umbrella, providing shade for the temple all day long.
The material of ancient wood originates from a secluded valley, far from the human world, and can be regarded as pillars. The ginkgo trees in the ancient temple can grow for thousands of years, embodying the spiritual energy of the An Ku Tuo Mountain and absorbing the radiance of the sun, moon, and stars. They are a masterpiece of nature. Ginkgo trees guard the courtyard, shelter kind-hearted people, and are revered as divine trees and spiritual trees. To this day, people still have great respect for the ginkgo tree, and many people burn incense and kowtow under the tree, praying for its safety.
Deep mountains nurture spiritual energy, and experts all explore it. Famous figures such as Da Yu, Yuan Dexiu, Fan Zhongyan, and Mei Yaochen have all been bathed in the Buddhist light and spiritual energy of ancient temples dating back thousands of years.
Experience the pure and elegant life of the temple monks, listen to the surrounding peaks and millennium old ginkgo trees, and input endless heavenly sounds into the ancient temple; Comprehending the auspicious clouds that surround the temple, it seems to be telling the great virtues and good karma of Buddha and Bodhisattva; The endless fragrant clouds indicate future happiness and auspiciousness. Living in an ancient temple, one is full of auspiciousness. Standing at the peak of the heart, forgetting both praise and disgrace, all things are under our feet.
One of the magical legends of Wenshu Temple:
In 841 AD, Japanese monk Huike came to China to study Buddhism. In the twelfth year of Emperor Xuanzong's reign, he traveled back and forth to China four times, becoming an outstanding envoy in the history of Sino Japanese Buddhist relations.
In the summer of that year, after paying homage to Mount Jiuhua Tibetan Bodhisattva and Mount Emei Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, Huicaly made a special trip to Mount Wutai to pay homage to Manjusri Bodhisattva, and was shocked by the 33 body portraits of Guanyin. Since there was no statue of Avalokitesvara in Japan before him, he dared to ask the Abbot of Mount Wutai for a statue of Avalokitesvara. Although the 33rd Bodhisattva Hall of Guanyin was destroyed in the early Tang Dynasty and had just been renovated in the eleventh year of the Dazhong reign, it was costly. However, Huixie was sincere in his efforts and ultimately the temple met his requirements.
However, when Hui'e returned home with the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva, who had been invited, on a boat to the southeast of Mount Putuo in Zhejiang, hundreds of iron lotus flowers suddenly appeared on the water surface. These iron lotus flowers were in various shapes, flipping up and down, blocking Hui'e's path. Despite the efforts of Hui'e and the boatmen, the ship still could not move forward. Iron lotus flowers rose and fell around the ship, causing rough waves to roll in. Hui'e realized that Guanyin Bodhisattva did not want to leave mainland China to Japan, so he knelt at the bow of the boat and prayed and agreed, "If all sentient beings in our country have no chance to see Buddha, we should establish a sanctuary based on our direction." As a result, the iron lotus flower faintly retreated. Hui'e abandoned his boat and landed, leaving a statue of Guanyin here to build a temple, named "Refusal to Go to Guanyin Temple". From then on, Mount Putuo became a temple dedicated to Guanyin, commonly known as "Nanhai".
When Hui caly returned home with the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva after paying homage to Manjusri Bodhisattva in Mount Wutai, he passed Pinggou Village, Sikeshu Township, at the foot of Yaoshan Mountain in Lushan. In midsummer, the weather was hot, and he once had a rest in a mountain col where five ginkgo trees grew. In order to commemorate it, later generations built the Wenshu Temple here. As the temple was built at an altitude of 1112 meters on the Ankutuo Mountain, it is also known as the Ankutuo Temple.
Legend is beautiful, it embodies people's feelings towards truth, goodness, and beauty, and its true performance cannot be verified. But the well preserved "Inscription on the Reconstruction of Wenshu An An Ku Tuo Temple" from the 25th year of the Qing Dynasty's Daoguang era in the temple records: "In the southwest of Luyi, between the mountain valleys, there was an old Wenshu An An Ku Tuo Temple, with white clouds as the domain, green peaks as the screen, green bamboo reflecting the steps, and ginkgo trees as the enclosure, which is unparalleled in the ancient Danqiu Shulin..."
The second magical legend of Wenshu Temple:
At the end of the Sui Dynasty, Li Shimin's army marched to the Central Plains, but was surrounded and intercepted by the Sui army. He hastily fled to the deep mountains and huge valleys of Tuancheng. Feeling lost, he made a grand wish to Manjushri Bodhisattva, "Seeking Bodhisattva's help to conquer the Central Plains and build beautiful rivers and mountains of the Tang Dynasty." Afterwards, Li's father and son finally seized the rivers and mountains, establishing the Li family dynasty. After Li Shimin ascended to the throne, in the fourth year of the Zhenguan reign, he conferred titles on Manjushri Bodhisattva and Guanyin Bodhisattva in the An Ku Tuo Temple, adorned with golden clothing and shining with Buddhist light.
The Tang Dynasty was the heyday of Wenshu Temple, with morning bells, evening drums, and a hundred monks. The temple was magnificent and bustling.
The third magical legend of Wenshu Temple:
The 'Tree King' has a unique hole in his trunk that is captivating. Upon closer inspection, the hole looks like a saw cut, measuring six or seven meters in length and one finger wide. There is also a hole on the back that can accommodate one hand. The Heavenly Craft Divine Axe is breathtaking. It is said that this is the masterpiece of Lu Ban, the founder of woodworking and an outstanding inventor.
According to legend, when the Zhongyue Temple was built, the emperor ordered to use the ginkgo tree from Wenshu Temple to make a large plaque. The people couldn't bear to have their ginkgo trees chopped down, so they told Mozi, the "sage of the common people", about this matter. Mozi, who had always advocated "frugality", was infected by the actions of the people and conveyed their distress to Lu Ban. Lu Ban arrived here day and night, facing the towering trees and worshipping them. He was very conflicted in his heart. His will must not be violated, and the people must not be deceived. What should he do? Lu Ban walked around the big tree for three days and finally came up with a win-win solution. On a bright moon night, he wept and bowed to the sky. After bowing three times and kowtowing nine times, he held up a large saw and immediately saw a "central board" in the center of the ginkgo tree. Lu Ban's wisdom and superb skills saved the tree, and the millennium old tree was safe and sound, which was applauded and praised by the people.
The fourth magical legend of Wenshu Temple:
In the era of steel refining in the last century, the local commune machinery factory sent people to cut down the largest one, but it was unanimously opposed by the villagers. After several negotiations, the local villagers replaced this millennium old chestnut tree with three chestnut trees that were only a few inches thick, saving it from disaster. It has grown to this day and has become the "King of Ginkgo", which has been included in the list of ancient trees in the Central Plains.
