Zhongfeng Monastery has an old name,Qianming Temple. Qing Ming, a Daoist abbot,built the temple in 4th century. Between 420_534 A.D., according to the relevant historical documents, a Buddhist monk by the name of Ming Guo stayed under the foot of Baozhang Peak of Mt.Emei . Every March 3 of the Chinese Lunar Calendar,Monk Ming Guo saw Qian Ming practice witchcraft to deceive people by spreading the story in which Qu Wu of the Eastern Han dynasty ascends to Heaven as an immortal.Monk Ming Guo knew that it was the mischief done by the evidoer. So he gathered some localpeople to subdue the witchcraft with arrows and bows. Everyone agreed to obey Ming Guo because of his persuasive power. Even Daoist priests in Qianming Temple were all covered to Buddhism,and Daoist temple became a Buddhist Monastery named Zhongfeng Monastery,which mens “Central Peak”.
The monastery gradually became one of the six largest ancient monasteries on the mountain. During the Tang and Song dynasties many eminent monks and celebrities gathered in Zhongfeng Monastery,which was magnificent in scale and layout.White peonies grew around the monastry,and the whole peak was arowned with flowers,plants and gardens. The present monastery retains a horizontal board inscribed Zhongfeng Ancient Monastery. It is said that it is a relic of the Song dynasty. A huge stone remains in front of the monastery.In legend,this was the Chu site where Lu Tong,a well_known scholar of the Chu state,built his housefor his studies and for farming during the Spring and Autumn Periods. Huang Tingjian of the Song named the stone as Gefeng Platform(Singing Phoenix Platform). Behind the monastery is a strange stone,yellow in color, commonly called Realgar Stone. In legend,Sun Simiao used to stay here making bills of immortality.It is said that Li LONG Ji,one of Tang emperors tookrefuge in Sichuan from a war dister area.One evening the emperor dreamt that the emperor to offer him the realgar bills of immortality. The emperor to offter him the realgar bills of immortality. The emperor had someone send the bills up to the mountain where clouds and mist filled the air,and the there was no sign of Sun Simiao but written words of gratitude for the enperor left on Realgar Stone.