Wuzu Temple Travel Guide
The Fifth Patriarch's Zen Monastery · Dongshan Dharma Gate · True Body Pagoda
Wuzu Temple is located on Dongshan in Huangmei and is the place of practice of the Fifth Patriarch of Zen, Hongren. It is known as the birthplace of the "Dongshan Dharma Gate." The Sixth Patriarch, Huineng, pounded rice here in August and wrote that verse "Originally there is not a single thing," marking the split of Zen into northern and southern schools.
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Destination Details
Wuzu Temple is located on the eastern side of Dongshan Mountain, northeast of Huangmei County in Hubei. It was founded by the Fifth Patriarch of Chan Buddhism, Hongren, during the Yonghui period of the Tang Dynasty. Hongren gathered disciples here to teach Dharma, with over a thousand followers, and it was historically called the "Dongshan Dharma Gate" — the true formation of Chinese Chan Buddhism took place on this mountain.
Key Highlights
Transmission Story and True Body Pagoda
The most frequently recounted story in the temple is about the transmission of the robe and bowl: Shenxiu wrote, "The body is the Bodhi tree, the mind like a bright mirror stand," to which Huineng responded, "Bodhi originally has no tree, the bright mirror also has no stand; originally there is not a single thing, where can dust be attracted?" Eventually, Hongren passed the robe and bowl to Huineng, who was still pounding rice in the mortar at the time. The True Body Pagoda behind the temple is said to house Hongren's remains. The pagoda is simple and has an ancient architectural style.
Dharma Lecture Platform and Dongshan Ancient Path
The temple is built ascending along the mountain landscape, with the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Mahavira Hall, and True Body Pagoda rising sequentially along the central axis. Outside the mountain gate, the Dongshan Ancient Path is an old stone staircase used for mountain pilgrimages. Dense forests line both sides, and it takes about twenty minutes to walk up, with a gentle slope.
Recommended Route
- Classic route: Mountain Gate → Hall of Heavenly Kings → Mahavira Hall → Dharma Lecture Platform → True Body Pagoda, approximately 1.5 hours.
- Combine with Sizu Temple and Lushan Donglin Temple to form an eastern Hubei Chan Buddhism origin line.
Practical Information
The distance from Huangmei County to Wuzu Temple is about twelve kilometers, a 25-minute drive by chartered car. The temple is built on a mountain and involves many stairs; it can be slippery after rain, so caution is advised. Nearby is Sizu Temple; the distance between the two temples is about twenty kilometers, making it possible to visit both sites in half a day by car.
