Xiangshan Jingang Temple Introduction
Located in Dinglan, the Xiangshan Jingang Temple is named after the geographical formation resembling an elephant on Xiang Mountain. The main deity worshipped here is Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara). In China, the worship of Guanyin began in the first century BC with the introduction of Buddhism and spread to Korea and Japan in the mid-seventh century. The Guanyin faith also reached Tibet in the seventh century, primarily represented as the four-armed Guanyin, with the Dalai Lama considered its incarnation. Before the Song Dynasty, Guanyin was typically depicted as male; for example, in the Flower Adornment Sutra, Guanyin is described as a valiant man, and the Compassionate Sutra refers to a good man. Later, in response to the wishes of many devotees, Guanyin transformed into a female image, embodying maternal love and compassion to save beings. [Source: Jinsai Township Office]
