On February 19, 2019, I walked 20 miles and arrived at Zifang Temple in Haozhai Town at 7 a.m. and saw the current situation of Zifang Temple-
Zifang Temple is located in the south of Haozhai Town, Sheqi County. The gate faces south. Go straight after entering the mountain gate and you will find the main hall: Lingxiao Hall,
To the east is the Zifang Hall,
Mainxiong Hall,
< p>To the west are Jiazi Hall, Nainai Hall, and Zhuan Hall. The entire temple is spectacular and majestic. Green pines and cypresses are planted in the courtyard, which makes it look peaceful, simple and elegant. The incense smoke is lingering and the clouds and mist are floating in the sky. It has the feeling of "winding paths lead to secluded places, and the Zen room is deep with flowers and trees".
Director Luo and Master Dong in the temple received me kindly and warmly. While I watched, I listened to them talk about three legendary stories about Zifang Temple.
? The first legend about Zifang Temple -
? In the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty Zhang Liang (also known as Zifang), a military advisor, saw through the harshness of the world and the dangers of being with a king like a tiger, so he abandoned his official post and wandered around the world to become a wild crane. On this day, he was looking for his mentor Huang Shigong and came to Haozhai, where people and horses were exhausted. Just make a grass house and stay here temporarily. Later generations built this temple to commemorate Zhang Liang's sincerity in seeking his teacher and his outstanding achievements, and named it: "Zifang Temple"
The second legend is also interesting -
? Huang Shigong, who was on Xiaoding Mountain in Fangcheng, went down to Southeast Mountain one day to visit old friends and look for folk wizards. When he reached Haozhai, he was so hungry, thirsty and exhausted that he fell asleep here. It was the sweltering summer weather, and Huang Shigong fell asleep in the grass. He was completely unaware of the mosquito bites. When a nine-year-old child named Zhang saw this, he went home and brought some water and placed it in front of the grandfather, whom he did not know, for fear of waking him up. He did not call Huang Shigong, but used a banana fan to drive away mosquitoes and flies for Huang Shigong. Huang Shigong woke up and saw a child fanning him to blow some wind and shade to drive away mosquitoes. He sat up and asked the child what his name was. The child said his surname was Zhang, Zifang.
Huang Shigong suddenly asked the child, "Do you know who I am?" "I don't know, I just saw you with gray hair, sleeping in the grass. When a mosquito bites you, I will fan you out of love." The child said and handed the water to Huang Shigong. In his eyes, Huang Shigong was just an old man in trouble.
? Huang Shigong asked again: "Do you know the story of picking up shoes under the bridge, Confucianism can be taught?" The child said excitedly, "Yes, my grandfather told me that is The story of Zhang Liang’s encounter with Huang Shigong when he was a child. My grandfather named me Zifang just to learn from Zhang Liang’s good style.”
The Taoist Taoist of the Xian family sighed greatly, took the hand of the little zifang and said, "I am Zhang Liang's teacher Huang Shigong. Today you let me see the zifang back then." , you are the second child who can be taught by Confucianism." Upon hearing this, the child hurriedly knelt down and worshiped his teacher. Huang Shigong lifted him up and took out a strange book from his arms and presented it to the child. He also told him to study hard and become a great person! Then he drifted away.
After this little boy knelt down and kowtowed three times and nine times, he went home and studied hard. At the age of eighteen, he won the first place in the exam. When he returned to his hometown to praise officials and visit relatives, the local people donated money spontaneously. After reporting to the imperial court, the emperor granted him the three-character name "Zifang Temple", and then a large-scale construction work was carried out. A majestic and spectacular temple was built at the place where Xiao Zifang met Huang Shigong by chance. One is to commemorate Liu Bang's military advisor Zhang Liang, and the other is to highlight the appearance of a small house in Haozhai, a place with outstanding people. Huang Shigong's words to Xiao Zifang, "Study hard and you will become a great person" became the motto for people around the world to educate their children and grandchildren.
The third legend of Zifang Temple - Now it is proved that the big temple in Haozhai Town is called Zifang Temple, but why is it called "Purple Flower Temple" among the people?
According to legend, in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, there was a young man with outstanding talents. After passing the high school exam, he went to the capital to take the exam again. When he arrived at the Zifang Temple in Haozhai, he fell seriously ill and could not move forward. , the monks in the temple took him in to seek medical treatment for him. The young man's wife Zihua came back after not seeing her husband for a long time at home, and was told that she was ill on the way. Zihua was eager to find her husband and searched along the road. When she came to the Zifang Temple in Haozhai, she saw clouds and mist surrounding the temple. Purple air came from the east. The temple was glittering with gold. What greeted her was a gold-paved avenue! After Zihua girl entered the temple to find her husband, she kept crying and laughing, and said something incomprehensible to everyone. Everyone found it strange. A few days later, her husband became seriously ill and passed away. Zihua cried bitterly and fell into a coma for three days. He tied up his hair and became a monk, determined to become a practicing Zihua Taoist in Zifang Temple.
? After Zihua Girl became a Taoist priest in Zifang Temple, she made many donations and renovated Zifang Temple, and built Lingxiao Hall, Jiazi Hall and Daxiong Hall. (Originally there was only one Zifang Hall.) He went through hardships, endured hardships and stood hard work, devoted himself to cultivating Taoism, and loyally protected the law and temple. He was unanimously praised by the people nearby!
Girl Zihua stayed in the temple until she died of illness at the age of 101. The monks and villagers buried her and her husband underground in the temple. It is said that the two cypress trees in the middle of the Zifang Temple are the incarnations of Zihua and her husband. Warning people that even though Zihua is a weak woman, she can still practice Taoism and become an immortal, and her sincerity will lead to success!
From then on, people began to call Zihua Temple. Some people say that Zihua Temple is Zifang Temple, which is called Zhuoyin. After hearing this legend, I had doubts: it is really called Zhuoyin. Or do you believe in a legend?
? The magical legend of Zifang Temple has become more and more popular among the people, and has also attracted a large number of faithful men and women who have traveled thousands of miles to worship. The local people firmly believe in these three legends. No doubt. On every first and fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, the place is full of incense, and everyone wants to get involved with Zifang's loyalty, kindness, diligent and studious spirit, and Zihua's spirituality of practicing Taoism throughout his life and being determined to achieve good results in the end.
I bowed deeply when I left Zifang Temple. I hope that the spirit of Zifang will be immortal and be famous throughout the ages.
? 2019.02.20 in Miaodian Town