Guo'En Temple
A sacred Buddhist temple founded by the Sixth Patriarch Huineng in 683 AD. Surrounded by the peaceful Longshan Mountains, this historic Lingnan temple is famous for its ancient architecture, Buddhist relics, thousand-year-old lychee tree, and deep connection to Southern Zen Buddhism, Discover Guo’en Temple in Yunfu, Guangdong
- City
- Yunfu
- Address
- At the foot of Longshan Mountain, Liuzu Town, Xinxing County, Yunfu, Guangdong, China
- Cost
- Free
- Official website
- https://www.guoensi.com/
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Founded in 683 during the Tang Dynasty by the revered Zen master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch of Chan Buddhism, the temple has long been celebrated as the spiritual heart of Lingnan Buddhism. Also known as Longshan Temple, Guo’en Temple is famous for its ancient architecture, sacred relics, centuries-old lychee tree planted by Huineng himself, and peaceful mountain surroundings. Revered as the First Sacred Buddhist Site of Lingnan and built against the slopes of Longshan Mountain, the temple covers more than 10,000m² and follows the traditional symmetrical layout of Chinese Buddhist monasteries while incorporating distinctive Lingnan architectural elements.
In 707, Emperor Zhongzong officially bestowed the name Guo’en Temple (Temple of National Grace) in recognition of Huineng’s influence and the spread of Zen Buddhism. Over the centuries, the temple evolved into a major religious center in Guangdong and remains an active monastery today.
Highlights
- The ceremonial First Sacred Land Archway
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- Heavenly Kings Hall
- The Thousand-Year-Old Lychee Tree planted by Huineng himself over 1,300 years ago
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- Mahavira Hall
- Sixth Patriarch Hall
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- Zhuoxi Spring created when Huineng struck the ground with his staff to provide water for his disciples
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- Bell and Drum Towers
- Dharma Hall and Meditation Hall
- Guanyin Hall
- Bao’en Pagoda that covered many sacred relics and precious Tang Dynasty artifacts that nowadays are displayed in the Buddhist Relic Hall
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The temple’s halls also preserve many features of Ming Dynasty architecture and decorative craftsmanship, including stone carvings, ceramic sculptures, wooden detailing, and Lingnan-style roof ornaments (the most remarkable one is probably the ancient 400 years-old Shiwan ceramic sculpture known as Dragon and Tiger Gathering )
### Opening Hours
08:00 am - 11:30 pm
14:00 am - 17:30 pm
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#### Photo credit : 国恩神寺 Guo'en Temple Website : guoensi.com
#### Thumbnail : Rednote ID 426488298
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