Bright
Filial Piety Temple on
Guangxiao Road is one of
the oldest Buddhist
temples in Guangzhou and
was the mansion of
Prince Zhao Jiande of
the Nanyue Kingdom
during the Western Han
dynasty (206
B.C.-A.D.24).
Bright Filial Piety
Temple was first built
by an Indian monk during
the Eastern Jin dynasty
(317- 420) and the
present temple,
occupying an area of
31000 square meters, was
rebuilt it the Qing
dynasty (1644 - 1911).
It enjoys great
reputation in Buddhist
history because Huineng
of the Zen Buddhist sect
was a novice monk here
in the 7th century.
The Sixth Ancestor Hall
in the temple was built
in memory of Huineng,
the sixth master of the
Zen Sect of Buddhism,
who was also the most
influential monk in the
history of Chinese
Buddhism.
In the temple there is
also a pagoda where
Huineng’s hair was
buried. Other ancient
structures in the temple
include Sakyamuni Hall,
Samgharama Hall, the
King of Heaven Hall, and
two iron towers. |