Ancestral Seal Temple is located in the city center of Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, and is a key cultural relics protection unit in Zhoushan City. According to historical records, the temple was originally situated on Qushan Island, formerly known as ‘Penglai Court’, and was established in the fifth year of the Tianfu period of the Later Jin Dynasty (940 AD), making it over a thousand years old. During the Zhiping era of the Song Dynasty, it was granted its current name, ‘Ancestral Seal’. In the Jiaxi era, the local magistrate Yu Gui relocated the temple to its current site, merging it with the original Putuo Mountain reception temple. During the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty, the eminent monk Shan Ning began to preach at Ancestral Seal, followed by the abbot Mi’an Chan Master, who promoted Zen Buddhism and brought the temple great reputation and prosperity. The temple has been destroyed and rebuilt several times: it was abandoned during the early Ming Dynasty, reconstructed during the Xuande era, and suffered a fire during the Zhengtong era; it was rebuilt again during the Chenghua era. In the early Qing Dynasty, when the islanders migrated inland, the city walls were completely destroyed, and the temple buildings were also destroyed by war, with only the Mahavira Hall standing firm, which was considered miraculous at the time. During the Kangxi era, the general Lan Li of Dinghai raised funds for the restoration; during the Tongzhi era, the abbot monk Yunxu raised funds for expansion; during the Xuantong era, the local person Zhu Baoshan donated funds for another major restoration. The existing structures include the mountain gate, Hall of Heavenly Kings, Mahavira Hall, Rear Hall, bell tower, and east and west wing rooms, covering an area of 2,300 square meters on a site of more than 5,000 square meters. Except for the recent reconstruction of the main mountain gate, the rest are Qing Dynasty buildings. The temple is open all year round from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM.
Ancient Ancestral Seal Temple
Ancestral Seal Temple is located in the city center of Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, and is a key cul[...]
