Baofeng Temple

Baofeng Temple

Baofeng temple is located under Baozhu peak, Baofeng Town, Jing'an County, Jiangxi Province. The temple was originally named "juetan Temple", also known as "Falin Temple". Because it is located in Shimen mountain, it is known as "Shimen ancient temple". In Tang Dynasty, it was renamed "Baofeng Temple", which is still in use today. Since its establishment for more than 1200 years, Baofeng temple has been revived and abolished several times. During the "Cultural Revolution", the movement of Lemuria and Ecuador broke off. It was rebuilt in 1993. Each hall was designed by master Yicheng, then president of Jiangxi Buddhist Association, and all the funds were collected from home and abroad.

Baofeng temple is an important Taoist center of Mazu Daoyi. Since the first year of Zhenyuan (785), Mazu has led many disciples here to preach Buddhism. With the establishment of "Hongzhou Zen" in Mazu, the Taoist culture of Baofeng temple has had a profound impact on Chinese philosophy, national culture and moral concepts.

geographical position

Baofeng temple is located in SANZHAOLUN National Forest Park, the only national demonstration forest park and national 4A tourist area in Jiangxi Province. It is located at the foot of Baozhu peak, Baofeng Town, 20 kilometers to the north of Jing'an County, Jiangxi Province.

Historical evolution

During the reign of Tianbao in Tang Dynasty (742-756), a Shuiliao monk from Kaiyuan Temple in Zhongling (today's Youmin temple in Nanchang) and his younger martial brother daotong built a house together. This is the beginning of Baofeng temple.

Baofeng temple is an important Taoist center of Mazu Daoyi. Since the first year of Zhenyuan (785), Mazu has led many disciples here to preach Buddhism. It has a profound influence on Chinese philosophy, national culture and moral concepts.

In 788, master Mazu Daoyi died in Kaiyuan Temple (today's Youmin Temple), where he kept his soul and bones.

In the fourth year of Tang Dynasty (850), Xuanzong gave the plaque of "Baofeng", so it changed its name to "Baofeng Temple", which is still in use today.

In 1735, Emperor Shizong granted Mazu the title of "Puzhao Daji Zen master" and renovated Baofeng temple, which entered its heyday. Baofeng temple in the Qing Dynasty is a large-scale temple, covering an area of more than 100 mu. The whole temple is divided into two parts: the main hall and the east courtyard. The main hall has five straight entrances, with four characters of "Shimen ancient temple" on the banner of toujin Shanmen hall. There is a stone tablet of "imperial edict" on it. The ancient cypresses are towering in the temple, and the bell and drum towers are arranged on the left and right. The second entrance to Tianwang hall is a five bay antique building with one gate. It is used for pasting gold statues of Dadu Maitreya Buddha, Weituo and the "Four Heavenly Kings". There is hanyue bridge behind the temple, and the pool under the bridge is clear. The third entrance to Huangjin temple is the temple Juebao Hall (namely xuanfo Hall) has a sutra collection building on the East and west sides. It is 26 meters high and has 42 columns, accounting for 1100m2. It is an antique building with three gates and seven bays. In the center of the shrine, there is a 13 meter high gilded statue of Heng III Buddha, with 500 Arhats painted on the surrounding niches; in the center of the five entrance hall, there is a ancestral niche for the statue of Matsu.

Since its establishment for more than 1200 years, Baofeng temple has experienced many vicissitudes. During the "Cultural Revolution", the movement of lemonger was interrupted. In the autumn of 1992, Zen master Yicheng, vice president of Jiangxi Buddhist Association and Abbot of Zhenru temple, proposed the restoration of Baofeng temple, which was fully supported by the people's Government of Jing'an county. Construction and reconstruction began in 1993. Zen master Yicheng designed it himself and raised all the funds from home and abroad.

During the construction of Baofeng temple, the elders of various mountains at home and abroad, Shifang Dade, tanyue believers, and four disciples gave their full help. All over the county, the relevant departments and people from all walks of life strongly support. As a result, all the projects were carried out smoothly and completed quickly. On September 12 of the lunar calendar, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Xugong's death, Daxiong hall and Shanmen hall were completed and opened. The ceremony was held on the same day with grand ceremony and common happiness. It was held to revive Baofeng with the style of emperor Mazu.

Temple layout

The overall architectural pattern of the temple is in strict accordance with the fixed pattern of Buddhist temples. The gate of the temple faces south and there is an antique archway as high as 13 meters. In the middle of the square, there are four characters in regular script of "Mazu Daochang" inscribed by Zhao Puchu, and next to it is engraved with "Jiang youchan sect". On the column, there is a couplet written by Yicheng elder, honorary president of China Buddhist Association and former abbot of Baofeng Temple: "Baofeng Jingyu, the source of Dharma and rain, the jungle of the world will be opened from now on; Mazu Daochang, which is popular and popular, comes from the west to seek the general idea."

In front of the memorial archway, there is a half moon shaped release pool. On the south side of the release pool, there is a nine dragon wall, which is carved with bluestone and has a simple shape.

The North-South longitudinal axis has four main halls: the first entrance is the Shanmen hall, with single-layer angle; the second entrance is the Tianwang hall, with Xuhuai building and Yunhai building on both sides; the third entrance is the Daxiong hall, with brick and wood structure, which is also the main building of Baofeng temple. It is built on the former site of the ancient imperial Pavilion Hall, sitting north to south, covering an area of about 1100 square meters. The hall is very spacious and can accommodate hundreds of monks to chant sutras and worship Buddha at the same time. In the center of the hall are three statues of Sakyamuni, Amitabha and pharmacist Buddha. There is Guanyin island in the back of the niche, 500 Arhats on the four walls of the main hall, ups and downs, sitting and lying, happy, angry and sad, vivid in shape, bright in costumes, full of artistic beauty; the four entrances are the Dharma hall and the Sutra library.

There are wing rooms and side halls on both sides of the main hall, which are two-story brick and wood structures. From north to south, the east side is bell tower, guest room, Gongde hall, Jialan hall, Zhaitang, Shangke hall and Yingtang. Outside there are inner guest hall, ancestral hall, Weituo hall, Xuejie building and Abbot's room. All halls and wing rooms are equipped with veranda, which can avoid wet shoes in rainy days.

Scenic spots in the temple

Mazu tower Pavilion

The precious cultural relic in the temple is the Mazu pagoda, which was built in the middle of Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in Song Dynasty. It is the site of Mazu relic. The full name of the pagoda is "Baofeng Mazu Da Ji Buddhist relic pagoda". It also has a stone pavilion and a protective body. It was listed as a key cultural relic protection unit in 1957. In the cultural revolution, the tower was destroyed and the pavilion remained. In 1993, mazuta was rebuilt. All of them are made of white marble from Shandong. The tower is 4.5 meters high, with a square xumizuo shape at the bottom and a square body. On the front of the tower, there are inscriptions written by the famous calligrapher Qigong: "mazudao, the pagoda of Buddhist relic of Daji". On the East and west sides, there are inscriptions written by Quan Deyu of Tang Dynasty and contemporary Yicheng Zen master respectively. The pagoda Pavilion is made of granite. It has six pillars and six corners. It is covered with stone slabs. The six corners of the eaves are decorated with headpieces.

After the death of Mazu, the relic was hidden in the tower. The tower Pavilion is a typical stone building of the Song Dynasty. In 1957, Mazu pagoda pavilion was listed as a provincial key cultural relic protection unit by Jiangxi Provincial People's government. In 2013, it was listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit.

Xuyun Memorial Hall

The restoration of Baofeng temple is the last wish of elder Xuyun, so this memorial hall is built in Baofeng temple. Virtual cloud method is like a long beard brushing the chest, eyes slightly open, sitting, solemn and solemn. Old monk Xu Yun, who has lived for more than 120 years, is a leader in the resurgence of modern Buddhism and a contemporary Zen master. There is a couplet written by master Xu Yun in the hall: "when I sit and read the five emperors and four dynasties, I don't feel the vicissitudes of life several times. After nine years and ten difficulties, I know that things are changeable." Under one of Xu Yun's photos, there is a verse: "what's the origin of this fool? Why did the end of the Dharma come out for no reason?". When the holy pulse of Hezi is in danger, it's time to give up one's own affairs and worry about others. To Gufeng top straight hook carp, into the sea fire fried retting. If you don't get a bosom friend, you hurt yourself, laugh through the void and scold others. Eh, why don't you put down the canal? I'll stop when my life is exhausted. "

History and culture

Mazu Temple

During the reign of Tianbao in Tang Dynasty (742-756), Shuiliao monk of Kaiyuan Temple (today's Youmin temple in Nanchang) and his younger martial brother daotong Zen master built an nunnery in Baofeng and invited master Mazu to visit. Mazu is an eminent monk who has traveled all over the world to promote Zen. In his second life, he went to Baofeng: first, in the first year of Zhenyuan (785), he traveled with many disciples in Baofeng, where Mazu was intoxicated and forgot to return; second, in the first month of the fourth year of Zhenyuan (788), master Mazu Daoyi went to Shimen Baofeng again, strolled between the mountains and rivers, and saw that "along the gully, he was carefree". He chose Baofeng as a burial place, and predicted that he would do it a month later One day the monk strikes the other, and the clock dies. The monks did not take this remark to heart at that time.

Soon after returning to Kaiyuan Temple in Zhongling, Mazu died of illness and lived 80 years. In accordance with his will, the disciples buried their bones in Baofeng. Li Jian, the then Jiangxi observer, was a convert brother of Mazu and held a grand funeral ceremony. According to the biography of eminent monks of Song Dynasty, Mazu's funeral was the third grand funeral of Buddhism in the history of Chinese Buddhism after the master of Huayan patriarchal sect Guigu Songshan and the master of Pure Land Sect Shandao buried in the pagoda Qinling. In the seventh year of Zhengyuan (791), the Prime Minister of Tang Dynasty, Zuo Shequan Deyu, built the Mazu Pagoda in Shimen and wrote the inscription himself. In the 806-820 years of Yuanhe (806-820), Emperor Xianzong granted Mazu the posthumous title of "Daji Zen master". In the fourth year of Dazhong (850), Pei Xiu, the Jiangxi observation envoy, gave orders to rebuild the Mazu pagoda, which was named "dazhuangyan pagoda" and inscribed with a plaque of "Baofeng". In the 10th year of Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty, the emperor of the Qing Dynasty was the founder of the Qing Dynasty In 1735, Mazu was granted the title of "Puzhao Daji Zen master".

According to some data, Mazu built 48 Temple forests all his life. There is a saying in history that "Mazu built the jungle and established the pure rules". According to the historical records, there are 139 descendants of Mazu who have names and surnames. Among them, 84 have become Zen masters. Therefore, the Zen style founded by Mazu and Huaihai is known in the history of Chinese Zen

Chinese PinYin : Bao Feng Si