[2] The Chinese Buddhist monk Weishan Lingyou of the Tang dynasty (618–907) founded Miyin Temple on Mount Wei [zh] and started the Weiyang school of Buddhism making Mount Wei an important religious sacred site in China's feudalist era.

In 813, in the eighth year of the age of Yuanhe of Emperor Xianzong, the traveler who named Liu Qian (刘潜) came to Ningxiang, Hunan Province.

Huaihai followed Liuqian's advice, he commanded his disciple Weishan Lingyou to go there, build temples and advertise Folk Buddhism.

In 807, in the second year of the age of Yuanhe of Emperor Xianzong, Da'an (大安禅师) and Lingyou built Yingchan Temple (应禅寺).

[3] In 845, after the Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution, Lingyou disbanded the monastery, and lived a self-cultivation for food life.

At that time, the prime minister Pei Xiu had retreated and worked in Hunan for Jingzhou Provincial Governor.