Climb with me into a story etched in time. This is the tale of Yunfeng Temple in Guilin. It is more than just a temple. Yunfeng Temple stands as a testament to perseverance faith and revolution.
Yunfeng Temple is located southwest of Elephant Trunk Hill. The temple’s story begins long ago. Legend whispers of a Taoist temple named Wenling Temple during the Tang Dynasty. Taoists once gathered here to pray for rain.
Fast forward to the Song Dynasty. In 1214 Fang Xinxiao who was a Guangxi judicial officer built a retreat. He named it Yunfeng Hermitage. Centuries later during the Ming Dynasty a county magistrate built a shrine named Fanfang Shrine. This honored Fan Chengda and Fang Xinxiao. The Qing Dynasty transformed the shrine into Yunfeng Temple. Near the end of the Qing Dynasty the temple became a shrine called Fuli Shrine.
Yunfeng Temple has housed various deities. They included Taoist figures notable people Buddha and even Pan Wang a local deity. In 1852 the Taiping Army besieged Guilin. They used Yunfeng Temple as their command center.
The late Qing Dynasty was a time of corruption. The people suffered greatly. This led to the Taiping Rebellion. The Taiping Army almost controlled half of China. They were initially successful. Sadly internal corruption led to their downfall. Statues of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom’s four kings stand outside the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Memorial Hall.
Historical records detail the Taiping Army’s strategy at Elephant Trunk Hill. After breaking out of Yong’an in 1852 they advanced towards Guilin. They surrounded the city from the east south and west. They seized Elephant Trunk Hill. They positioned cannons on top near Puyi Pagoda from the Ming Dynasty. This became the Taiping Army’s forward position. They launched a month-long siege. Their cannons bombarded Qing soldiers.
The Taiping Army eventually withdrew. They needed to shift their strategy north. They left straw figures on Elephant Trunk Hill. They connected many cannons with long fuses. These were set off to cover their retreat.
The heroic struggles at Elephant Trunk Hill are chronicled. This is shown in the “Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in Guilin” exhibition. It is housed within Yunfeng Temple. This adds to the temple’s significance.
Yunfeng Temple became a Taiping Heavenly Kingdom exhibition hall. Preserved within are flags weapons and ammunition used during that era. The ancient Puyi Pagoda stands as a silent witness. It saw the bravery of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom heroes.
Yunfeng Temple is historically important. It served as the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom’s headquarters. Jianzhen a Japanese Buddhist patriarch also resided here. After five failed attempts to sail to Japan he stayed at Yunfeng Temple for over a year.
During his stay officials and scholars gathered in Guilin. They sought teachings from Jianzhen. A year later he sailed from Elephant Trunk Hill. This sixth attempt to reach Japan was successful. Jianzhen’s time in Guilin is a major event in the city’s Buddhist history.
In 1900 Yunfeng Temple was rebuilt. It featured a brick and wood structure with three courtyards. The first and second courtyards had five rooms. The third had three rooms. The first and third courtyards had two-story buildings. The central hall in the second courtyard housed a shrine with Buddhist statues.
During the Anti-Japanese War the temple was damaged. It was repaired in 1953. In 1979 it was rebuilt with reinforced concrete. It retained its traditional style. Today it covers 1852.6 square meters. It features two stories three courtyards and five rooms. The temple has curved walls. It also has red pillars beams and lattice windows. The roof is adorned with glazed green tiles.
Now known as the Yunfeng Temple Exhibition Hall. It has hosted exhibits. These include “The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Revolution in Guilin”. Also “Guilin Ming and Qing Dynasty Porcelain Painting”. As well as “Guilin Unearthed Cultural Relics” “The Xinhai Revolution in Guilin” and “Li Zongren in Guilin”. Yunfeng Temple stands as a monument. It honors history revolution and cultural exchange.