Established in the second year of the Tianjian era by Wang Shu, a resident of QianDeng town, who donated his residence to build what was named Yanfu Zen Temple. In the second year of the Tianfu era of the Wu Yue kingdom (937 AD), it was imperially bestowed with the name ‘Prajna Temple’. In the first year of the Dazhong Xiangxiang era of the Song Dynasty, it was renamed Yanfu Zen Temple. Wang Jue, who once served as the county’s chief clerk, donated his residence to expand the temple due to his old age and lack of heirs. The temple is grand in scale and a sacred Buddhist site, attracting worshippers from the Jiangnan region with a continuous stream of offerings. The temple was destroyed at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. It was reconstructed during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1398). In the second year of the Yongle era, Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Revenue, stayed in the temple while dredging the Wusong River and QianDeng Pu. During the Wanli era (1573-1619), the temple monk Zhan Yue renovated the Dharma Hall and the mountain gate. The temple was destroyed again at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and the Buddhist monk Daye Miyin rebuilt the Buddha Hall and the scripture pavilion in the Qing Dynasty. During the Tongzhi era, the temple was destroyed in the war between the Qing army and the Taiping Army, leaving only a few rear rooms and monks. After the liberation, the monks changed their occupations, and the rear rooms were transferred to a hospital. From 2003 to 2005, the temple was restored to its original appearance. It is open all year round from 08:30 to 16:30, with specific business hours subject to daily opening conditions.
Yanfu Zen Temple
Established in the second year of the Tianjian era by Wang Shu, a resident of QianDeng town, who don[...]
