觀之肇始，可溯西晉永嘉元年（公元三〇七年），初建石墨寺，爲沅澧流域佛教傳播最早之名剎，素有“沅澧第一寺”之稱，史冊斑斑可考。清同治《直隸澧州志》載：“石墨寺，在縣東，晉永嘉元年建，明弘治時修，國朝康熙三年增建祖師殿、觀音閣，乾隆四十年塑供羅漢像，建有關帝宮。”千年古剎，興廢有數，然佛法道韻綿延未絕。清康熙三年（一六六四年）增建祖師殿、觀音閣，乾隆四十年（一七七五年）塑金身羅漢，擴關帝宮，香火極一時之盛。民國時期佛道交融，山巔專設玉皇大帝神位，民間始稱“玉皇觀”，遂成佛道同祀之獨特格局。Tracing its origins back to the first year of the Yongjia era of the Western Jin Dynasty (307 AD), the Shimo Temple was established as the earliest famous Buddhist temple in the Yuan and Li River basin, traditionally known as the "First Temple of Yuan and Li," with extensive historical records to support this. The *Zh Lizhou Gazetteer* of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty records: "Shimo Temple, located east of the county, was built in the first year of the Yongjia of the Jin Dynasty, repaired during the Hongzhi era of the Ming Dynasty, and in the third year of the Kangxi era of the current dynasty, the Patriarch Hall and Guin Pavilion were added. In the fortieth year of the Qianlong era, Arhat statues were sculpted and enshrined, and the Guan Di Palace was built." This thousand-yearold temple has seen its share of rise and fall, yet the Buddhist teachings and Taoist rhythms have continued uninterrupted. In the third year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty1664), the Patriarch Hall and Guanyin Pavilion were added, and in the fortieth year of the Qianlong era (1775), gold-bodiedhats were sculpted and the Guan Di Palace was expanded, bringing its incense and offerings to a peak of prosperity. During the Republic of China period, Buddhism and Taoism merged, a dedicated shrine for the Jade Emperor was established at the mountain peak. The common people began to call it the "Jade Emperor Temple," thus forming a unique pattern of co-wing Buddhist and Taoist deities.