Tianzhu Mountain Baihe Temple: A Taoist Holy Site Shrouded in the Mists of Time

Nestled within Tianzhu Mountain north of Qianshan County in Anhui Province lies Baihe Temple, also known as Zhenyuan Palace—a Taoist temple steeped in over a thousand years of history. Like a pearl sealed by the passage of time, it quietly recounts the splendor and vicissitudes of the past.

According to legend, the White Crane Temple was founded by the White Crane Daoist during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty. At that time, the White Crane Daoist wandered to this place, captivated by the natural beauty of Tianzhushān, and settled here to practice Daoism. He later built the temple and named it the White Crane Temple. Since its inception during the Southern Liang Dynasty, Baihe Temple has embarked on a long and unique historical journey. From the Tang Dynasty to the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, Taoist monks have continuously practiced here, with incense smoke rising and sutra recitations echoing ceaselessly.

During the Tang Dynasty, Daoism was highly revered, and the imperial family claimed descent from Laozi Li Er, establishing Daoism as the state religion. Emperor Xuanzong Li Longji once received guidance from a divine being in a dream, leading him to discover a spring on Mount Tianzhou, known as the “Dream Well” (located to the right of Baihe Temple, now within the Mount Tianzhou Elderly Care Home). Subsequently, Emperor Xuanzong sent envoys to Mount Tianzhou to build the Temple of the Lord of Destiny, and used “fragrant clay” to sculpt an image of the Lord of Destiny for veneration. This initiative greatly promoted the development of the Baihe Temple, enhancing its status within the Daoist community.

During the Song Dynasty, the Baihe Temple entered a period of even greater prosperity. In the seventh year of the Taiping Xingguo era, Emperor Taizong Zhao Kuangyi ordered the construction of the “Lingxian Temple”; in the seventh year of the Zhenghe era of the Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Huizong Zhao Ji bestowed a plaque with his own calligraphy inscribed with “Zhenyuan Wanshou Palace,” commonly abbreviated as “Zhenyuan Palace.” At that time, the two palaces on Mount Tianzhou became important imperial Daoist sites, featuring grand scale and a large number of Daoist priests. County annals record that the constructed Daoist temples included the Temple of the Lord of Destiny, the Temple of Heavenly Blessing, the Lingxian Temple, and the Zhenyuan Wanshou Palace. At its peak, there were 3,600 Daoist quarters and 3,000 Daoists, reflecting its prosperity.

However, time is relentless, and the White Crane Temple endured hardships in the vicissitudes of history, gradually declining. Over time, wars, dynastic changes, and natural erosion caused this ancient Taoist temple to lose its former glory, with most of its buildings destroyed. Today, we can only glimpse its former appearance through the remaining ruins.

The current White Crane Temple site is located in Xinjiao Group, Fengjing Village, Tianzhushān Town, featuring a five-tiered stepped architectural foundation with a total area of approximately 5,000 square meters and a relative elevation of 50 meters above ground level. It is an important scenic spot at the southern entrance of the Tianzhushān Scenic Area. The site preserves precious relics such as the Yingmeng Well and the White Crane Spring. The Yingmeng Well has a diameter of 2.3 meters at the wellhead and a depth of 3 meters, named after Emperor Xuanzong’s dream, shrouded in mystery; the Baihe Spring was excavated by the Baihe Daoist, with the original wellhead diameter of 0.5 meters, later subsiding into a shallow pond due to tectonic movements. A commemorative stele from the 34th year of the Republic of China (1945) still stands, silently bearing witness to the passage of time.

Although the White Crane Temple now exists only as ruins, its significance in Daoist culture remains indelible. It is not only an important witness to the development of Daoism but also a precious heritage of ancient architectural art and religious culture. Standing before the ruins, one can almost hear the sounds of bells and gongs from the past and see the figures of Daoist monks engaged in their practices. Tianzhu Mountain Baihe Temple, despite its vicissitudes, continues to attract people with its unique charm, inviting them to explore that long-forgotten history and experience the profound depth of Daoist culture.