Kaiyuan Temple in Chaozhou
Overview
Kaiyuan Temple in Chaozhou (潮州开元寺), originally known as “Lifeng Temple” (荔峰寺), is located in Ganlufang (甘露坊), Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province, China. It was established during the Tang Dynasty, in the 26th year of the Kaiyuan reign (738 CE), when the government issued an imperial decree to build ten major temples across the country, all named “Kaiyuan.” Kaiyuan Temple in Chaozhou is one of the selected ten.
The temple complex consists of four main sections: the Vajra Hall (金刚殿), the Heavenly King Hall (天王殿), the Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿), and the Sutra Storage Building (藏经楼). The main axis features the Screen Wall (照壁), Mountain Gate (山门), Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Sutra Storage Building, and the Jade Buddha Hall (玉佛楼). To the east are the Guest Hall (客堂), Earth Store Pavilion (地藏阁), Dining Hall (斋堂), Monk’s Quarters (僧舍), the Unusual Meditation House (不俗精舍), and the Ancestor Hall (祖堂). The west side contains the Abbot’s Room (方丈室), Avalokitesvara Pavilion (观音阁), Wisdom Hall (慧业堂), Monk’s Quarters, and the Heavenly Beings Pavilion (诸天阁). This forms a large courtyard-style building complex, covering an area of 11,031 square meters.
Kaiyuan Temple is renowned as the “First Ancient Temple in Eastern Guangdong” and the site of the Lingdong Buddhist Academy. It is also one of the four remaining “Kaiyuan Ancient Temples” in China, revered for its beauty and significance. The temple has earned the epithet “The Land of Blessings for a Million Families, the Forest of a Thousand Worlds.”
In 1983, Kaiyuan Temple was designated as a key national open temple by the State Council. On June 25, 2001, it was listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.
Basic Information:
- Name: Kaiyuan Temple, Chaozhou (潮州开元寺)
- Location: Ganlufang, Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province
- Era: From the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty
- Area: 11,031 square meters
- Protection Level: National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit (5th batch)
- Approval Unit: State Council of the People’s Republic of China
Historical Development
Kaiyuan Temple was originally known as Lifeng Temple (荔峰寺). In 738 CE, during the 26th year of the Kaiyuan reign, the imperial decree ordered the construction of ten major temples across the country, all named “Kaiyuan,” and the Chaozhou Kaiyuan Temple became one of them. The temple was initially named “Kaiyuan Wanshou Zen Temple” during the Yuan Dynasty and “Kaiyuan Zhen Guo Zen Temple” with the addition of “Wanshou Palace” during the Ming Dynasty. In common parlance, it is often referred to simply as “Kaiyuan Temple.”
The temple underwent several rounds of renovations, the most significant being the renovations during the Northern Song Dynasty from the 3rd year of the Yuanbao reign (1040) to the 3rd year of the Qingli reign (1043). During the Guangxu era (1875), it is said that local officials and scholars deliberately reduced the number of beams and pillars in the Great Hall to suppress the power of the temple, believing it to be too influential.
Despite undergoing multiple major renovations, including the most recent ones in 1982 and 1983, the temple has retained its original courtyard-style layout, which embodies the architectural styles of the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties.
Architectural Layout
The temple is aligned north-south, with towering ancient trees providing ample shade. The temple grounds are spacious and beautiful, with well-maintained gardens and vibrant flowers, creating a serene environment. The architecture features grand halls, sacred statues, and abundant cultural relics. The temple has earned the title of the “First Ancient Temple of Eastern Guangdong” and is also home to the Lingdong Buddhist Academy. It is one of the four Kaiyuan temples that remain today.
The layout includes several halls and buildings that follow a symmetrical pattern along the central axis, with the following notable components:
- Screen Wall (照壁) and Mountain Gate (山门) at the front
- Heavenly King Hall (天王殿), Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿), Sutra Storage Building (藏经楼), and Jade Buddha Hall (玉佛楼) along the central axis
- Guest Hall (客堂), Earth Store Pavilion (地藏阁), Dining Hall (斋堂), and various monastic buildings to the east
- Abbot’s Room (方丈室), Avalokitesvara Pavilion (观音阁), and Wisdom Hall (慧业堂) to the west
Main Buildings
Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿)
The Mahavira Hall is the tallest structure in Kaiyuan Temple, sitting on a two-story base. It features five bays in the front and four in depth. The roof has heavy eaves and a hip-and-gable design, with decorative elements such as gourds and peacock tails along the ridge. The hall’s stone carvings depict scenes from Buddhist stories like “Shakyamuni Renounces the World,” “White Horse Enters the City,” and “Cutting the Hair on the Mountain.” The hall also houses a large incense burner, made from meteorite stone, dating back to 1325 CE during the Yuan Dynasty.
Heavenly King Hall (天王殿)
The Heavenly King Hall is an expansive structure, with an 11-bay wide front and 4-bay depth, covering an area of 807 square meters. The architecture features intricate wooden carvings and is a prime example of early Southern and Northern Dynasty architectural styles. It has been hailed by architectural experts as one of the few remaining examples of early wooden construction in China.
Sutra Storage Building (藏经楼)
The Sutra Storage Building holds a precious collection of Buddhist scriptures, including the complete 7,240-volume edition of the “Tripitaka” (大藏经), granted by the Qianlong Emperor during the Qing Dynasty. The collection includes rare woodblock-printed stories and illustrations, making it one of the largest collections of Buddhist texts in China.
Vajra Hall (金刚殿)
The Vajra Hall is a Ming Dynasty structure with five bays in the front and three bays in depth. It is known for its exquisite wooden carvings and religious relics, including a statue of Vajrapani (金刚手) and numerous other representations of Buddhist deities.
Cultural Relics and Treasures
Kaiyuan Temple boasts an impressive collection of cultural relics, including:
- Tang Dynasty Stone Scripture Pillars (唐代石经幢)
- Song Dynasty Aśoka Pillar (宋代阿育王石塔)
- Song Dynasty Bronze Bell (宋代大铜钟)
- Yuan Dynasty Stone-carved Incense Burner (元代石雕大香炉)
- Ming Dynasty Wooden Carving of the Thousand Buddhas (明代木雕千佛塔)
- Qianlong Emperor’s Edition of the “Tripitaka” (乾隆皇帝御赐的雍正版《大藏经》)
Thousand Buddha Tower (千佛塔)
The Thousand Buddha Tower, located inside the Mahavira Hall, was built at the end of the Ming Dynasty. The tower features six pillars at its base, each carved with a warrior, and the tower’s base is decorated with scenes from the Buddhist journey of the monk Xuanzang. Each level of the tower is adorned with intricate carvings of Buddhist figures, and it serves as a prime example of the high-quality craftsmanship of ancient Guangdong.
Stone Scripture Pillars (石经幢)
The four stone scripture pillars outside the Heavenly King Hall and Mahavira Hall were constructed in the Tang Dynasty and are over 1,200 years old. These pillars are covered in exquisite carvings of Buddhist scriptures and are considered to be a significant historical artifact of the temple. Despite the ravages of time, these stone pillars have been remarkably well-preserved and are a testament to the artistic skill of ancient craftsmen.
Famous Quotes and Inscriptions
One of the most famous inscriptions found in the temple is engraved on a stone screen wall outside the mountain gate:
“佛日增辉法轮常转，皇风永扇帝道遐昌”
(Buddha’s Light Increases, the Dharma Wheel Always Turns; the Emperor’s Influence Flourishes, the Imperial Path Expands.)
This inscription reflects the harmony between the spiritual and imperial aspects of Chinese culture, highlighting the reverence for Buddhism and the imperial patronage of the temple.
Kaiyuan Temple in Chaozhou is a rich and significant cultural and historical site. Its long history, architectural grandeur, and vast collection of Buddhist relics make it one of the most important temples in Guangdong Province and in China. It continues to attract visitors from all over the world who come to admire its beauty and immerse themselves in its spiritual atmosphere.
