Religious Culture
Situated just north of West Lake, Baopu Taoist Temple was founded during the Jin Dynasty (266-420) and is considered a sacred site by the Complete Reality (Quanzhen) school of Taoism. Dedicated to Ge Hong (284-364), who studied alchemy and medicine with a strong interest in Taoism, the name of the temple was derived from his Taoist monastic name – Baopu Zi. Destroyed by war during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the temple was reconstructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The temple eventually fell to ruin and remained in that condition until it was restored in 2003.
In 2015, the Chinese pharmacist Tu Youyou was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her 1972 discovery of artemisinin. She noted that her discovery was inspired by Ge Hong’s Emergency Formulas to Keep at Hand, written in 340.
The abundant cultural landscape endows Baopu Taoist Temple with the title of “fairyland”. It was built to enshrine and worship Patriarch GE Hong, the famous Taoist, chemist and medical expert.
Baopu Taoist Temple (formerly named as Baopu Cottage or Gexian Hut) was constructed in Jin Dynasty, and extended in Tang Dynasty. It went through five dynasties to Song Dynasty, but was then partly destroyed by the war in Yuan Dynasty. The reconstruction work started at the beginning of Ming Dynasty. Baopu Cottage was renamed as Baopu Taoist Temple, which is still in use today, in Qing Dynasty after renovation according to the Taoist name of GE Hong.
At the east side of Gexian Temple, present main hall of Baopu Taoist Temple, is Banxian Humble Cottage. At the south side of the Humble Cottage is Hongmei Pavilion. Chuyang Tower, where Patriarch GE Hong observed the sun and the moon, is located on the top of the mountain. You can see the extraordinary sight of rising sun and moon at the same time there on the first day of the tenth month in lunar calendar. Besides, there are Tai Chi Pavilion, Yuanchen Hall, Guangling hall, and Jiuku Hall enshrining and worshiping immortals and patriarchs. You can visit relics there, including Gexian Tablet, Ancient Alchemy Well, Shuangqian Spring and Alchemy Tower.
(Source: Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs)
