Bangka Qingshui Temple

Qingshui Zushi was a man of the Northern Song dynasty, born in Fujian; accounts of his lay name differ, giving Chen Zhao, Chen Ying or Chen Zhaoying. He studied Buddhism from childhood and built a small hermitage in a rock cave on Penglai Mountain to practise. Because the water in the cave was clear and cold, the hermitage was called Qingshuiyan ('clear water rock'), which is the origin of the name Qingshui Zushi. Legend says that while he was practising there, demons smoked him with a great fire until his face was completely black, yet he was unharmed; hence the name Black-faced Zushi. The name Nose-dropping Zushi comes from a legend that whenever a disaster is about to happen near the temple, Zushi's nose falls off by itself to warn residents and worshippers. The dragon and tiger walls of the temple have carved brick motifs, and the couplet on the main door reads: 'It is Qingshui, it is Penglai, this place shares in the realm of the Dharma; a golden body, an iron face, enter the gate and see the true countenance.' Both are works from the 1817 restoration. Among the old plaques is one inscribed 'Gong Zi Zheng Ji' ('merit in rescue and relief'), bestowed by the Guangxu Emperor.

Translated and shortened by DealTaipei from Taiwan's national tourism database. Sources are on the terms page.