Caoshan Baoji Temple
曹山宝积寺
A Chan Buddhist temple founded by Chan Master Benji during the Tang dynasty. Together with Dongshan, it is considered an ancestral site of the Caodong School. The mountain is quiet and wooded, and Buddhists from Japan and Korea often visit to pay respects.
Caoshan Baoji Temple lies on Mount Cao in Yihuang County. During the Xiantong era of the Tang dynasty, Chan Master Benji founded the temple and taught here. Together with his teacher Dongshan Liangjie at Dongshan in Yifeng, he established the Caodong School, one of the Five Houses of Chan Buddhism, which makes Mount Cao one of the ancestral sites of the Caodong School. The Caodong School later spread to Japan and Korea, where it has had a lasting influence, and the temple often receives overseas pilgrims tracing their roots. The current temple was rebuilt in recent years. Its halls follow the mountain's slope, and it is surrounded by bamboo groves and ancient trees, creating a serene atmosphere. Entry is free. Visitors should observe proper etiquette during worship. Getting there: about 1 hour by car from Fuzhou's urban area. Public transport is limited, so driving is recommended.
Opening hours
Approx. 07:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Garden of Three Masters
- Mount Magu
- Celebrities Sculpture Park & Tang Xianzu Grand Theatre
- Wang Anshi Memorial Hall
- Menghu Lake
- Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall
- Nixian Pavilion
- Wenchangli Historic District