Guangxiao Temple

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Guangxiao Temple, also known as the Bright Filial Piety Temple, is a magnificant and ancient temple, built as the mansion for Prince Zhao Jiande of the Nanyue Kingdom during the Western Han Dynasty (206BC - 24AD).

There is a saying in Guangzhou that "Guangxiao temple comes earlier than Guangzhou". With a history of 1700 years, the temple is reputed as the oldest and the largest temple of Buddhism in Guangzhou. Lots of eminent monks in and abroad propagandized in the temple, including Xuanzhuang, the eminent monk in Tang Dynasty (618A.D- 907A.D) and Bodhidharma, the 28th patriarch of Buddhism. Huineng, the 6th patriarch of Chinese Zen Buddhism, was ordainment under the bodhi tree in the temple 1333 years ago. The majesty temple and grandeur palace make Guangxiao temple become a treasure of Chinese architecture. The cultural relics in the temple are significant in the history of Chinese Buddhism, culture, architecture and Guangdong region.

The magnificent tablet of Guangxiao Temple	The front view of the temple

Originated in India, Buddhism's spreading to China is through three ways. One is the "ancient silk road"; another way is to India from Sichuan and Yunnan; the other way is shipping from Guangzhou to India. The third road made use of season wind and Guangxiao Temple is located on the third way. Generally the eminent monks who passed Guangzhou would stay in Guangxiao Temple. The temple also has close relationship with Zen which is the main sect of Chinese Buddhism.Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism, translated from the Chinese word Chán, which means "meditation". Zen School focuses on inherent enlightenment, sudden awakening, the wisdom of emptiness (shunyata), and meditation. Its emphasis was on realization through direct experience rather than study of sutras. At the end of Liu Song of the Southern dynasties(420-479), Bodhidharma came to Guangzhou from India and propagandized Zen in the temple. After that he went to Shaolin temple on Song Mountain and set up Zen in China from which he was honored as the "founder of Chinese Zen". Bodhidharma excavated a well to wash the earthen bowl in the temple which is still well preserved. There were other India eminent monks who translated Buddhism and propagandized here. Huineng, the 6th patriarch of Chinese Zen Buddhism, was ordainment under the bodhi tree in the temple.

With magnificent buildings, Guangxiao Temple is reputed as the top of Buddhism temples in South China. It not only occupies an important position in the history of Buddhism, but also initiates the unique feature of South China's architectures.

Guangxiao Temple is one of the most famous Buddhism temples in China	The earthen bowl washing well is still preserved

The Mahavira Hall

The Mahavira hall can be seen by entering the temple. It is the main building of Guangxiao temple with longest history and largest dimension. Built by Dharnayas from Kashmir in the year of 401, the Mahavira hall is one of the well-preserved ancient architectures. The crossbeam is supported by shuttle-shaped poles and the roof is supported by arches under the brim; the hall is built on the hathpace of the stone base. With typical features of South China architecture, the special structure of the Mahavira hall was followed by lots of temples in the south. Although the hall has been rebuilt for many times, it still keeps the features of the architectures in Tang Dynasty(618A.D- 907A.D) and Song Dynasty (960A.D—1279A.D). As it influences the structures of South China's temples in a long period, it is attached as an important construction in the preserved old buildings.

The front view of the Mahavira Hall	the Mahavira hall is one of the well-preserved ancient architectures

Liuzu Hall (The Hall of 6th patriarch of Buddhism, Huineng)

One of the most famous stories in Buddhism, "Not the Wind, Not the Flag"is about Huineng- the 6th patriarch of Chinese Zen Buddhism in Guangxiao Temple.
Huineng had secluded for 15 years after being titled the 6th patriarch of Zen Buddhism. One day, Huineng came to Canton and passed by Guangxiao Temple. He heard two monks arguing about the temple flag waving in the wind. One said, "The flag moves." The other said, "The wind moves." They argued back and forth but could not agree. Huineng said, "Gentlemen! It is not the wind that moves; it is not the flag that moves; it is your mind that moves." The two monks were struck with awe. The monks in the temple recognized Huineng's insight and guessed that he was the patriarch of Buddhism.
The Liuzu Hall was built for the worship of Buddhism in memory of Huineng.

Liuzu Hall is built to memorize Huineng	The structure of the hall

Yifa Tower

Yifa Tower, located in front of the Liuzu Hall, is the main building and the unique cenotaph of the temple. According to the history, Huineng's hair was buried here after he was ordainment under the bodhi tree. The tower is in eight-square shape with the height of 7.8 meters (25.6ft). It has 8 statues of Buddha on each of the 7 stories. Yifa Tower was considered to be rebuilt in Nansong Dynast(1127A.D—1279A.D), 9th year of Chongzhen (1636), the year of 1954 and 1977.

A close view of the Yifa tower	The whole view of the Yifa tower

Bodhi Tree

Bodhi is the transliteration of Sanskrit which means the ambit of sudden enlightenment. It also means the brightness and approaches of consciousness as well as the final ideal of Buddhist. The Bodhi tree in front of the Liuzu hall is really supernatural. The first supernatural feature is represented in its origin. In the year of 502, Paramārtha, the eminent monk of old India, brought a bodhi tree which represented brightness from India and planted in front of the temple. According to the legend, Sakyamuni sit in meditation and realize the Buddhism under a Bodhi tree. Therefore, the relationship between Buddhism and bodhi tree is indivisibility. The second supernatural feature is represented in Buddhist allegory "Reincarnation". The seeds of the bodhi tree in Guangxiao temple were planted in Nanhua Temple in Shaoguan City (300 miles from Guangzhou) that year; and after the death of the bodhi tree in Guangxiao temple, the seeds of Nanhua temple's bodhi tree were planted in Guangxiao temple again. The transposal of the relationship represents the allegory of Reincarnation.

Huineng instructed The Heart of Prajna Sutra under the bodhi tree after his ordainment.

The famous Bodhi tree together with Yifa tower	Bodhi is the transliteration of Sanskrit which means the ambit of sudden enlightenment.

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