Ever wondered what Guangzhou’s oldest and largest temple looks like? I will tell you about the Guangxiao Temple. It stands on Guangxiao Road. People say this temple predates Guangzhou itself.
Guangxiao Temple is not just old it’s historically significant. It holds the title of National Key Historical and Cultural Heritage Protection Unit.
Let’s step back in time. Over 1700 years ago this site was already important. Cantonese people say Guangxiao Temple predated the founding of Guangzhou. Yu Fan planted Kezi trees here. That’s why Guangxiao Temple is also called Ke Forest.
Emperor Xianzong Zhu Jianshen granted the name Guangxiao Temple in 1482. This temple is a Zen Buddhism Shrine. It connects various Buddhism schools. These include Zen Buddhism and Amitabha. Guangxiao Temple is Lingnan’s first temple. It is the original place of Lingnan Buddhism.
The story of Master Huineng is important here. He debated wind or flag moving here. He had his head shaved here too. He then became the leader of the South School of Zen Buddhism.
Now I will tell you more about the buildings. The Mahavira Hall was built in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The Indian monk Damo built the Spring for Washing the Monk’s Alms Bowl. The Yifa Pagoda and Dharani Pillar were built in the Tang Dynasty. The East and West Iron Towers were built in the Southern Han Dynasty. The Sixth Patriarch Hall and Samgharama Hall were built in the Song Dynasty.
Guangxiao Temple is one of Guangdong Province’s four most magnificent temples. The others are Kaiyuan Temple in Chaozhou. Then there is Nanhua Temple in Shaoguan. Finally there is Qingyun Temple on Dinghu Mountain in Zhaoqing.
Guangxiao Temple acted as a stopover for Asian missionary monks. It helped spread Buddhism. Precepts school, Chan or Zen, Shingon Buddhism, and Pure Land all spread from here. Huineng gave his first public Chan lecture here. Amoghavajra taught esoteric Buddhism here. Yijing translated many Buddhist scriptures here. Paramitiin translated the Shurangama-sūtra here too.
Guangxiao Temple began as Zhao Jiande’s residence. He was the king of Nanyue. Yu Fan lived here after being banished. After Yu Fan died his family donated the estate. It became the Zhizhi Temple. It was later renamed several times.
The Chenghua Emperor renamed it Guangxiao Temple in 1482. The temple declined in the 17th century. It was damaged during the Cultural Revolution. Buddhist monks reoccupied it in the 1980s. Some halls have been rebuilt since then.
The Mahavira Hall preserves the largest hall in Lingnan Region. It is designed for the southern climate. Wooden windows with flower patterns surround the hall. Some windows have translucent shells for light and ventilation. Inside are statues of Sakyamuni and Amitabha.
The Great Compassion Column stands in front of the Mahavira Hall. It dates back to 826. It has a mushroom-shaped canopy. The Great Compassion Mantra is inscribed in Sanskrit and Chinese.
Under a Bodhi tree lies the Hair Burying Pagoda. Huineng’s hair is buried here. It has seven stories with niches. Two iron pagodas stand behind the Mahavira Hall. The East Tower has seven stories. It features many Buddha statues.
Guangxiao Temple gives you a glimpse into China’s rich Buddhist history. Take a moment to appreciate the temple’s enduring legacy.