Caoshan Temple 曹山寺

About Caoshan Temple

The temple was founded in the Xiantong reign of the Tang (870–873) by the Chan master Benji, a disciple in the Nanyue–Qingyuan line of the southern school; the Caodong lineage that grew from his teaching is counted among the five houses of Chan, and the site is described in standard reference works such as the Cihai. The monastery sits at the centre of a basin of hills likened to lotus petals, with a 'sustaining' hill behind and 'dragon and tiger' hills to either side, and its surroundings include Benji's memorial pagoda, Yuhua Rock, the 'oil and salt' cave and an ancient ginkgo among fourteen listed features.

Rebuilding began in 2004, and the reconstructed complex in a Tang-style idiom, comprising the Heavenly Kings Hall, the Great Buddha Hall, the three teaching halls of the Caoshan Buddhist Academy, a refectory, a sutra library, monks' quarters and cloisters, was consecrated on 12 November 2009. The wider Caoshan scenic area around the monastery, rated 4A and planned over about nine square kilometres, adds newer landscaped features such as Benji Square, the Wuzhen Pavilion and tea gardens; the historic monastery and its modern reconstruction should be distinguished from these later additions.

What to look for

• The memorial pagoda of the founder Benji, near the temple
• The reconstructed Great Buddha Hall and Heavenly Kings Hall, consecrated in 2009
• The thousand-year-old ginkgo among the temple's listed natural features
• Benji Square and the Mingchan tea garden in the surrounding scenic area

Location & getting there

Getting to Caoshan Temple

Check which interiors and courtyards are accessible. Active places of worship and protected monuments may have different visitor rules.

• Search for 曹山寺 with 抚州市 and 宜黄县.