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Guangzhou has many
historical religious sites reflecting its long history of contacts with
foreign cultures. During much of its history, Guangzhou was known as the
starting point of the "Silk Sea Route." During the Southern
Dynasties (420-589 AD) Bodhidharma, the Indian monk came to Guangzhou to
propagate Buddhism. Later in the Tang Dynasty (620-907 AD) the monk
Huineng founded the "Southern sect" of Buddhism in Guangzhou,
which soon gained popularity both in China and abroad. Taoism was
introduced to Guangzhou in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (3 17-420 AD). Islam,
too, made its way to Guanghou before it spread to other parts of China.
Later came Catholicism and Christianity.
About 20 Buddhist temples still exist in Guanghou. These include the
Gaungxiao Temple, the Six-Banyan Trees Temple, the Hualin Temple, the
Great Buddha Temple and the Haitong Temple. Among the extant Taoist
temples are the Sanyuan Temple, the Five Immortals Temple and the Chunyang
Temple. Other famous temples include the South Sea God Temple and the
Renwei Temple. For Islamic mosques, the Haoban and the Huasheng, which
were built in the Tang Dynasty, are the most interesting.
The Guangxiao Temple is the oldest and largest Buddhist Temple in
Guangzhou. It was the original location of the residence of Zhao jiande,
king of the Nanyue State (approximately lOOBC). During the Three Kingdoms
period (220-265 AD). Yu Fan the classicist lectured here for a full thirty
years, hence it's other name the Yu Garden. It was during the Southern
Song Dynasty (11261279AD) that it became known as the Guangxiao Temple. In
the year 676, during the Tand Dynasty, Huineng who later founded his own
sect of Buddhism, came to this temple to discuss Buddhist teachings with
the monks and was converted. The Sixth Master Hall is in memory of him.
The cast-iron pagodas standing at the east and west ends of the hall are
the oldest of their kind in China.
The Six-Banyan Trees Temple was built during the Southern Dynasties. In
the year 1, 100, during the Song Dynasty, Su Dongpo the great poet paid a
visit here. Seeing that there were six Banyan trees in the compound, he
wrote the words "Six Banyan" on a scroll. Hence the name of the
temple. The temple covers an area of over 7,000 square metres. The main
gate faces east. Going in through the main gate, one comes to the Heavenly
King Hall, the Flower Tower and the Mahavira Hall, in the above order. In
the northern part of the compound is the monks' retreat and in the
southern part are the Stele Corridor, the Goddess of Mercy Hall, the Sixth
Master Hall and the Burong Pavilion.
In the centre of the compound is the tall magnificent Flower Tower. It was
built in the Liang period of the Southern Dynasties. On the top of the
tower is a 5-ton decorative rod made of brass, instead of wood, which is
rarely seen in China.
There is a bronze statue of the Sixth Master, a statue of Su Dongpo and
plenty of ancient steles.
The Hualin temple was constructed during the Southern Dynasties. Legend
has it that the temple was built soon a after the arrival of Dharma the
Indian monk, hence the original name Xilai (literally "visitor from
the west") Temple.
In the year 1654 the temple was expanded and renamed Hualin Temple. It was
then one of the five largest Buddhist temples in Guangzhou, with a large
team of monks. The Five-Hundred-Arhat Hall was built in the last year of
Emperor Daoguang (1821-1861). The statues of the Arhats are lifelike, in
different postures and moods. There is also a statue of Marco Polo, the
Italian explorer who came to China in the thirteenth century. The King
Asoka Pagoda sits in the middle of the hall.
The Sanyuan Temple (literally "three elements") was built in the
Eastern uin Dynasty, renamed the Wuxing Temple in the Tang Dynasty, but
reverted to the Sanyuan Temple during the Ming Dynasty (13681644).
According to Taoist theory, the sky, earth and water are the three
elements that make up the universe. This is the largest and oldest Taoist
temple still existing in Guangzhou.
The construction of this temple was completed in 1377 during the Ming
Dynasty. The temple is dedicated to the five gods of good harvest. The
temple faces south with a bill behind it. Above the main entrance is a
stone plaque with the four characters Wu Xian Gu Guan (literally "The
Five Immortals Temple") inscribed on it in the handwriting of a Qing
Dynasty (1644-1911) scholar. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the temple
was listed as one of the Eight Beautiful Scenes of Guangzhou.
Also called the Boluo Temple, this temple used to be the place where
people prayed to the Sea God for protection. Built in 594AD, this temple
has a history of over 1,400 years. It is located by the Pearl River
Estuary with raging waves in view. Seamen on ships going to or leaving
Gunagzhou would have a stopover here to pray to the Sea God for protection
and smooth sailing. The temple, therefore, is also an important legacy of
the "Silk Sea Route".
Inside the temple there is a statue of a foreigner gazing at the sea.
Legend has it that this Persian sailor brought here from his home country
a Boluo tree and planted it within the temple. Later this tree turned into
a god. Hence its other names the Boluo Temple.
The construction of this cathedral, located in Yide Road, lasted five
years (1863-1888) during the Qing Dynasty. Covering an area of 2,700
square metres, it is the largest Catholic cathedral in the Guangzhou
diocese and the largest Gothic-style building in China. It has many unique
features. As it is a structure consisting mainly of granite blocks, the
local people call it the Stone House.
The Huaisheng Mosque is the earliest mosque built in China after Islam
made its way into the country. In ancient times there was a community of
merchants from Arabic countries staying in and near this mosque. In
Chinese "Huaisheng means" cherishing the memory of
Mohammed", founder of Islam. This is an important historical relic,
which symbolizes the friendly relationship between China and Arabic
countries. In the mosque are the Moon-Watching Tower, the Long Corridor,
the Stele Pavilion, the Scripture Chanting Hall, and the Lighthouse.
Located inside the Huanisheng Mosque the Lighthouse Tower is also called
the Huaisheng Minaret. This is a greenish grey brick structure built
during the Tang Dynasty. The minaret is 363 metres tall and 7.5 metres
across at the base. It is cylindrical in shape tapering slightly towards
the top like a huge silver rod pointing at the blue sky. Inside the
minaret there are two staircases that spiral right to the top, but do not
cross each other. In the past, during the months of May and June each
year, Moslems would climb to the top of the tower from where they could
watch ships from their own countries coming into the port.
The Lighthouse is the oldest extant minaret in the world, 80 years older
than even the oldest one in Syria.
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