秀山寺位于石屏县宝秀镇西向3.5公里，座南朝北。据康熙十二年（1673年）石屏州事江夏人程封撰《石屏县志》载：“宝秀吴家营有秀山，其寺创于唐，又名鹫岭”； 乾隆二十四年（1759）重修的《石屏县志》也载：“秀山寺始建于唐，原名真觉寺”。秀山寺目前为省级文物保护单位，由山门、中殿、大雄宝殿、凌云阁及阁前园林区组成。

Xiushan Temple is located 3.5 kilometers west of the Baoxiu Township of Shiping County. The temple faces north. “In the Wujiaying Village of the Baoxiu Township, sits Xiushan Mountain— also known as Jiuling Mountain. The temple on this mountain was built during the Tang Dynasty.” The excerpt above comes from the version of the “Shiping County Annals” that was written by Cheng Feng, Governor of Shiping, in Emperor Kangxi’s 12th reign year (1673 A.D.). An updated version of the annals was published in Emperor Qianlong’s 24th reign year (1759 A.D.). The 1759 version of the text reads: “The Xiushan Temple was built in Tang Dynasty. It was originally named Zhenjue Temple.”The Xiushan Temple is a historical and cultural site protected by the provincial-level government. The temple consists of the Main Gate, the Middle Hall, the Main Hall, the Lingyun Pavilion, and a garden that is adjacent to the pavilion.

▼ 秀山寺鸟瞰，禅修室位于图中右下，the aerial view of Xiushan Temple (right below: Zen Meditation Rooms)

秀山林茂竹修，花草四时不绝，景致优雅绝俗，真觉古寺深藏于浓荫之中。钟岳山人涂应恒书狂草“秀山”二字悬于山门，故人们也将真觉寺称为秀山寺。清末明初，云南著名书法家陈荣昌、赵藩、袁嘉谷等人先后为秀山真觉寺题书对联，更使该寺名闻遐迩。

This ancient temple is surrounded by a lush bamboo forest and some of the most elegant, otherworldly scenery. During every season of the year, there are some flowers that are in bloom on the mountain. Tu Yingheng, the Zhongyue Shanren, once wrote the two characters “秀山” （literally meaning “elegant mountain”） in wild cursive (caoshu) on the temple’s main gate. From that day on, people began to call the temple Xiushan Temple. In the late-Ming and early-Qing period, well-known calligraphers, including Chen Rongchang, Zhao Fan, Yuan Jiagu and others, wrote couplets referencing Xiushan Temple, which in turn contributed to the temple’s fame.

surrounding environment of Xiushan Temple

秀山山脚有一弯人称“净水碗”的池塘，池塘边的玲珑六角小亭为“憩亭”，亭柱悬一联：“此处何妨小坐，大观还在上头。”沿林间石径拾级而上，便抵山门。门额上悬挂的“秀山”二字笔力混厚雄劲，“秀”似美人迎风起舞，“山”如卧龙起势待飞。进山门转至中殿前院，天井中植有唐樱、宋梅、元罗汉。据传，寺中罗汉松迄今已600余年，是当年徐霞客考察南盘江西源时树移植于此。每年冬末初春，石屏人有到寺中赏梅踏春的习惯，沿袭至今。庭中古木遒劲、四时翠叶如盖。稍作停歇，顿觉清心静气，俗念即抛。

At the foot of the mountain, there is a pond called the “Basin of Pure Water.” Adjacent to this pond stands a small hexagonal pavilion named the “Pavilion of Respite.” The couplet on this pavilion reads: “Why stay here when there is more to see up ahead?” The stone steps in the woods lead to the temple’s main gate. Above the gate hangs the lintel upon which the characters for “Xiushan” are written in forceful strokes. The character “xiu” (秀) appears like a beauty dancing in the wind, while “shan” (山) resembles a dragon ready to fly. In the courtyard before the middle hall, there are cherry trees from the Tang, plum trees from the Song, and arhat pines from the Yuan. It is said that the arhat pines were transplanted here over 600 years ago by Xu Xiake when he was traveling to the western source of the Nanpan River. In late winter and early spring, the people of Shiping are traditionally found appreciating the beauty of the temple’s plum trees’ blossoms. The ancient trees are robust as they grow verdant leaves year upon year. After making a visit to this temple, you will leave with a clear mind, free from trivial worries.