Guangci Temple

Guangci Temple

Guangci temple, formerly known as Dabei temple, was first built in the fourth year of Dazhong in Tang Dynasty (850), and was changed to Guangci temple in the second year of Zhiping in Northern Song Dynasty (1065). The building is magnificent, divided into front, middle and back three halls. The back hall is also known as "Pingfeng Pavilion".

Overview of temples

Guangci temple is one of the famous ancient temples in eastern Zhejiang Province. In the temple, two Japanese cherry blossoms donated by Guoqing Temple vividly show the relationship between them and Tiantai Sect. Guangci temple covers an area of about 4000 square meters, which is composed of the main hall, Zen room and Sutra tower. The main hall is divided into three parts: front, middle and back. It faces south from north and rises gradually. The hall is separated by patio and connected by veranda. Flying tile painting, eaves teeth high peck, majestic momentum, beautiful carving. "You Fang Yan Ji" written by Ying Jie of Qing Dynasty said: "as far as its scale is concerned, it is rare that King Ashoka of Yong is out of touch with West Tianmu and Putuo." Maitreya is the main Buddha in the front hall, Guanyin is the main worship in the middle hall, and Daxiong hall is the main worship hall in the back hall. The Tathagata Buddha is in the middle, with 9 Arhats on each side. These Arhats have distinctive personality and unique style. Although they are Buddhas, they can be appreciated as ordinary figure sculptures.

geographic information

Guangci temple is located on Fangyan mountain in Yongkang City, Zhejiang Province. It was founded in 850, the fourth year of Dazhong of Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty. It was originally called "Dabei Temple". Song Yingzong Zhiping two years (1065) changed to today's name. Up to now, some buildings still retain the architectural style of Ming and Qing Dynasties. Guangci temple is located in the rock, known as the "fairyland on earth" reputation, is a famous mountain resort in eastern Zhejiang. Danxia cliff, towering, ancient cave stone chamber, waterfalls, springs, valley scenery, famous. Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, there has been an endless stream of tourists, which has attracted countless poets and left many well-known literary and artistic works to later generations. According to Yongkang county annals written by Jiajing of Ming Dynasty, "fangyanshan is 50 Li to the east of the county. It is more than 200 Zhang high, and it is about 30 Li on Saturday. The mountains are cut on all sides. Fly up the bridge and stone ladder. At the top of the mountain, there are two rocks facing each other. If one man keeps it, ten thousand cannot open it. Only the pavilion is called touguan. Entering from the pavilion, the land is flat. There is a well, called inkstone well. There are pools, more than mu. There is a temple, called Youshun Marquis temple, on the right there is a Buddha stove, called Guangci temple. There is a valley behind the temple, several feet high, called Pingfeng Pavilion. The stone chamber under it is about one foot deep and several feet wide. The monk constructs the room nearby and lives in it. " After touring Fangyan, Wei Yu Dafu, a modern novel, exclaimed: "once upon a time, when I saw the cliff in traditional Chinese painting, it was magnificent and magnificent. When I got to Fangyan, I just looked up to each mountain. Then I knew that all the painting stones of the northern school in the Southern Song Dynasty had not been here." Professor Chen Congzhou, an expert in ancient architecture, once said: "Fangyan is in the middle and travels all over eastern Zhejiang Fang Yan used to have so many tourists that he was blessed with his geographical location

Historical evolution

In history, Guangci temple covers an area of more than 3000 square meters, which is composed of the main hall, Zen room and Sutra tower. There are 220 Buddha statues in the temple. The main hall has three entrances: the front, the middle and the back. At its peak, there were more than 500 monks, which were divided into eight rooms, namely, the inner room, the outer room, the human room, the dry room, the wealth room, the treasure room and the wisdom room. According to historical records, "the scale of Guangci temple is very large. As far as I can see, it's rare that Yuhang's spirit is stable, Yongyu's King Yu, his husband's heavenly eyes and Putuo's outside." There is a Japanese Cherry Blossom donated by Guoqing temple in the flower bed of the temple, which shows that it has a very deep historical origin with Guoqing temple. The tomb of Shi Zhengde's founder not far from the temple shows that Guangci temple is a thousand year old temple full of vicissitudes. After the Qing Dynasty entered the pass, the monks gradually declined. In the first year of Xuantong, the original eight houses were burned. In July of that year, the foreign houses (now called "Qiyuan") were rebuilt, and the dry houses (now called "monk houses") have been preserved. After 1949, the monks in the temple returned to the secular life one after another, and Guangci Temple became more and more deserted. In the ten years of catastrophe, Guangci Temple suffered another disaster, and the front and middle halls were reduced to ruins.

In 1985, the former and middle halls (main hall and Yuantong Hall) were rebuilt, the main hall, the dizang king hall and the King Kong hall were restored, and dozens of Buddha statues were made. The double eaves of the two halls are exquisitely carved, beautiful and resplendent. The plaque of "Guangci Temple" written by Mr. Sha Menghai and the couplet of Mr. Jiang Dongshu are hung on the main hall. The exquisite calligraphy works add a lot of luster to the ancient temple. In 1992, the religious policy was further implemented. In accordance with the requirements of "temple like temple, monk like monk", the principle of self-government and self support of temples was restored, and a sound management system was established. Now Guangci temple has become the main Buddhist activity place in Zhejiang Province.

Hu Gong Temple

Beside the temple, there is Hu Gong hall, which is dedicated to Hu Ze, the Minister of the Ministry of war of the Northern Song Dynasty. He was an outstanding politician in the political arena in the early Northern Song Dynasty. He won the respect and love of the people for his honesty and diligence. For thousands of years, he was honored as "Hu Gong Da Di". After his death, he was buried in laolongjing, West Lake, Hangzhou. Since then, the Hu Gong tomb temple has continued to this day, and the local people have always called laolongjing "Hu Gong Temple".

Hu Ze, the great emperor of Hu Gong

Hu Ze (963-1039), Zi Zheng, was born in Yongkang County, Zhejiang Province. He was courageous and talented when he was young. He once studied in Fangyan monk's house. After the imperial examination, he became an official of Taizong, Renzong and Zhenzong, holding ten state runes and six envoys. In the second year of Zhidao (996), he was transferred to Xianzhou to join the army. When Ningxia was disturbed, Taizong asked about the border policy and answered the question. He was promoted to Zhuolang and signed to beizhou observation judge. The imperial court sent envoys to Zha province for redundant service, and ordered them to travel along the North Road of the river. The redundant service of the province was more than 100000, and the people had to recuperate. After Dr. Taichang, he proposed two Zhejiang tea and knew muzhou. Ding Mu's worry, Fu Chu, Fu Zhi Yongjia County. More than a year later, he raised the money casting supervisor of Jiangnan Road silver and copper factory, changed the system of Jianghuai and set up the shipping envoy, and promoted him to be a member of the Ministry of Commerce. Huizhenzong worshiped Jinghao, and HuZe offered it without shortage. He was promoted to the third division as assistant envoy. He moved to Guangnan West Road to transfer envoys. Sometimes the boat was winded to Qiongzhou and told that she was short of food and couldn't go back. Hu Ze immediately ordered to borrow three million yuan. The local officials thought that the foreigners were not trustworthy, while Hu thought that "they were in a hurry, so why not refuse?" later, the loan was paid back as scheduled, which was three times the original value. In the third year of Tianxi (1019), Hu Ze visited Yizhou and accepted 19 prisoners who had been sentenced to death. After reexamination, 9 of them were found alive. When he returned to his post, he was tired to become Shaoqing of Taichang. In the first year of Qianxing (1022), Ding said that the punishment involved Hu Ze. He was demoted to Xinzhou, changed to Fuzhou, and advised the officials on the right to Hangzhou. He was transferred to Hebei Province as a transit envoy to the third Department of power. Hu then proposed to reform the salt law, changing official sales to commercial sales, which was convenient for the people. In 1031, he was demoted to Chenzhou. At that time, Fan Zhongyan was the judge of Chenzhou, while Hu treated him as a national and established deep friendship. In August of the first year of Ming Dynasty (1032), he was a minister of the Ministry of industry and a Bachelor of Jixian Academy. In the drought of the Yangtze River and Huaihe River Valley, many people died of hunger. Hu took the opportunity to go to Shanghai, asking for the exemption of the body money in Jiangnan forever, and decreed the exemption of the body money in Quzhou and Wuzhou forever. In the first year of Jingyou's reign (1034), he became an official of the Ministry of war, retired to Hangzhou, played the piano, read books, and wrote poems. On June 18, 1039, the second year of Baoyuan, Hu Gong died in Hangzhou at the age of 77. On February 21, 1040, the first year of Kangding, Hu Gong was buried in huiluowu, Longshan, Lvtai Township, Qiantang county. Fan Zhongyan wrote an inscription, which said: to advance with merit, to retreat with longevity, righteousness can be written, and the name is immortal. One hundred years later, it will be a thousand years later.

temple fair

Guangci temple is located in Fangyan, a famous mountain in the east of Zhejiang Province. It is a famous tourist attraction in the southeast. There are many strange rocks and peaks on the mountain, and there are many places of interest. For thousands of years, scholars have left many ink marks and poems, and there is an endless stream of winners. But for pilgrims hundreds of miles away, the most attractive is the Hugong temple fair in Fangyan Guangci temple. Hu Gong temple fair was originally a god greeting competition held by the people to offer sacrifices to "Hu Gong Da Di". Every year on the birthday of Duke Hu on the 13th of August and the ninth Double Ninth Festival on the ninth day of September in the lunar calendar, people in eastern Zhejiang pay homage to Guangci temple in order to thank him for his blessing. There are a large number of people, more than ten thousand a day, forming a grand temple fair. In gaozhen village of Yongkang, there is a custom of taking turns to pick up and see him off once every six years We will organize a team of pilgrims and hold God entertaining programs.

Temple fair program

In the Ming Dynasty, it is said that the militia organized by Qi Jiguang practiced martial arts against Japanese, which had a certain impact on the traditional temple fair customs. At that time, the southeast coastal areas were often invaded by Japanese pirates, and the counties were dilapidated and the people were in dire need of livelihood. Qi Jiguang, a famous Anti Japanese general, led the officers and soldiers to fight against the Japanese invaders, and organized a militia to encourage the people to practice martial arts. Later, the folk custom of practicing martial arts was integrated with the entertaining God program of the God welcoming competition, which resulted in a special lineup and gradually formed a magnificent temple fair program - Luohan team. In the golden autumn of August 13 and September, young men and women with strong bodies are selected to form Luohan classes and hold various forms of sports and martial arts activities. In addition to performing in their hometown and village, they will also perform at the Hugong temple fair of Guangci temple on the appointed day.

When the temple fair team set out, the front was led by the drum case flag, followed by the Luohan team composed of young adults with big knives on their backs and holding boring forks and shields, followed by "Eighteen butterflies", "stilts", "Eighteen foxes", "thirty-six lines", "Lotus falling", "nine string beads", "Lotus pistils" and other entertainment programs. This magnificent team includes sword and gun dancing, cudgel playing, shaking, Hongquan playing, Guanyin carrying, bottle rolling and card folding

Chinese PinYin : Guang Ci Si