Yuanjin Zen Temple
Yuanjin Zen Temple, located along the banks of the Cao Port River, is a renowned ancient Buddhist temple in Zhujiajiao Ancient Town. Built during the Zhizheng period of the Yuan Dynasty (1341–1368), its east gate stands near the western end of Tai’an Bridge. The temple underwent numerous renovations during the Ming and Qing dynasties, eventually reaching its present form. Situated on the scenic riverbank, visitors who ascend the Qinghua Pavilion can enjoy sweeping views of the Cao Port, which inspired generations of poets and scholars to compose verses celebrating its beauty.
From the early Qing dynasty, beginning with Abbot Yushi during the Shunzhi Reign, through to Abbot Jueming during the Jiaqing Reign, six successive abbots were highly skilled in calligraphy and painting. Their presence attracted many prominent literary figures and artists, leaving behind a rich legacy of inscriptions and masterpieces at the temple. A compilation titled “Yuanjin Zen Temple Notes” records these cultural treasures, including plaques by Zhao Mengfu and Dong Qichang, and couplets by Qing Dynasty scholars such as Liu Yong, Liang Tongshu, Qian Daxin, and Zheng Banqiao. Local cultural figures from Qingpu, including Lu Shusheng and Wang Chang, also left their works here. Some of Wang Chang’s woodblock prints were once preserved in the temple.
Sadly, most of these cultural relics were lost due to wars and fires over the centuries. By the early years of the People’s Republic of China, few precious items remained. Later, most surviving artifacts were collected by the Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Administration and are now housed in the Jiangsu and Suzhou Museums, with a few kept in the Qingpu District Museum.
In the early 1950s, the temple was dismantled, but several important stone inscriptions survived, including “Record of the Qinghua Pavilion Restoration” and “Stele of Master Zhenhua’s Pagoda” by Wang Chang, as well as “Record of the Main Hall Restoration” by Shen Guangying. These remain significant remnants of the temple’s heritage. Restoration work began in 1999, and in 2000 Yuanjin Zen Temple was reopened to the public.
