During the reign of Emperor Shizong, Buddhism flourished to such an extent that there were thirty thousand tem…
During the reign of Emperor Shizong, Buddhism flourished to such an extent that there were thirty thousand temples and one hundred thousand bronze buddha statues. Nowhere was this devotion more fanatical than in Thousand-Buddha Village near Qinghe. When Miaoshan, a wandering monk, came here and proclaimed outside the village that their faith was hypocrisy, urging them to repent, the villagers drove him away. But after Miaoshan left, heavenly fire suddenly descended, engulfing the entire village in flames. Not a single house was spared.
Since then, the area has remained scorched earth, lifeless. On quiet midnight hours, people often hear wailing cries from the ruins of Thousand-Buddha Village—perhaps the restless spirits of the villagers, unable to find peace.