Zhengxu Temple in Wuding County, Chuxiong

Chinese Name:武定狮子山正续寺
English Name: Zhengxu Temple in Wuding County, Chuxiong

Zhengxu Temple, located on Lion Mountain (Shizi Mountain) in the southwest of Wuding County, Yunnan Province, was founded in 1311 during the Yuan Dynasty. It underwent several reconstructions and expansions during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, resulting in a vast and majestic temple complex. The site contains over a hundred buildings, including the Mahavira Hall, Guanyin Hall, and the Sutra Library.

Historical Legend of Emperor Hui

According to legend, Emperor Hui of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yunwen, took refuge and became a monk at Zhengxu Temple in 1403 after being overthrown by his uncle, Zhu Di. A statue of Emperor Hui, dressed in monk’s robes, can be found in the Sutra Library, alongside statues of two eunuchs and an old minister. A couplet in the temple reads:
"The monk became an emperor, and the emperor became a monk. For decades, the robe and bowl were passed on, the awakening remains as regal as before.
The uncle betrayed his nephew, but the nephew did not betray the uncle. After walking 8,000 miles in straw sandals, Lion Mountain stands taller than Yan Mountain."

Emperor Hui’s Journey and Disguise as a Monk

After Zhu Di’s forces captured Nanjing, historical records suggest that Emperor Hui planned to commit suicide. However, a eunuch named Wang Yue remembered a chest left by Emperor Taizu (Zhu Yuanzhang), containing monastic certificates, robes, and a map of secret passages. Emperor Hui and his companions disguised themselves as monks and fled through the palace’s hidden tunnels.

Their journey took them through Hunan, Hubei, and Sichuan before arriving in Yunnan. Initially residing in Wuhua Temple in Kunming, Emperor Hui secretly met with Mu Sheng, the local military governor and a trusted ally of his grandfather, Zhu Yuanzhang. Mu Sheng helped Emperor Hui hide in Lion Mountain near Wuding, where he lived as a wandering monk to avoid capture.

Emperor Hui’s Life at Zhengxu Temple

In his later years, Emperor Hui returned to Zhengxu Temple, where he lived as a monk. The Mahavira Hall at the temple bears a couplet reflecting Emperor Hui’s dual identity as both monk and emperor, symbolizing his unique journey. Additionally, two peacock pines and a luohan pine in front of the hall are believed to have been planted by Emperor Hui himself, adding to the temple’s historical significance.