Guangyou Temple

Guangyou Temple

Guangyou Temple is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural heritage site.

Guangyou Temple in Liaoyang was first built during the Eastern Han Dynasty. It is one of the earliest temples established after Buddhism was introduced to China and served as the most influential center for Buddhist dissemination in Northeast China's history. In 1161 AD, Emperor Shizong of the Jin Dynasty, Wanyan Wulu, staged a coup and proclaimed himself emperor here. Since then, Guangyou Temple received imperial favor across successive dynasties and grew into a grand-scale temple. Historically, numerous emperors, generals, literati, and poets visited to pay homage and left many poems in its praise. In 1900, this ancient and renowned temple was tragically burned down by Tsarist Russian forces.

The reconstructed Guangyou Temple covers an area of 60,000 square meters, with a construction area of 20,000 square meters. Along the central axis of the temple from south to north are, in sequence, a memorial archway, the mountain gate, the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pavilion, the Sweet Dew Ordination Platform, and the Three Treasures Tower. On the east and west sides are the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Stele Corridor, and East and West Side Halls. The western part of the temple complex houses a separate courtyard, the Yuantong Zen Courtyard.

The Yuantong Zen Courtyard is an auxiliary hall of Guangyou Temple, built on an artificial earthen platform north of the White Pagoda. It covers an area of 3,000 square meters, with a construction area of 1,350 square meters. The main hall is a five-bay, single-eave, hip-and-gable style antique building, standing 17 meters tall. The plaque inscribed with “Yuantong Zen Courtyard” was written by Qi Gong, a nationally renowned calligrapher. “Yuantong” is another name for the Bodhisattva Guanyin, and thus this hall is dedicated to the worship of Guanyin.

At the center of the hall stands a seated statue of the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin, reaching a total height of 6.2 meters. To the left and right front of the statue are standing figures of Sudhana and the Dragon Girl, the two attendants of Guanyin. On both the east and west sides of the hall, on 1.2-meter-high pedestals arranged symmetrically, are 32 figures depicting the various forms Guanyin takes to teach sentient beings—known as the “Thirty-Two Manifestations.”

The rebuilt Guangyou Temple complex features a well-organized layout with majestic halls and towers, projecting a grand and imposing atmosphere. Based on the architectural style of the Liao Dynasty and integrating the essence of Ming and Qing designs, it stands as an outstanding representation of traditional Chinese architecture.

“An ancient temple in the Northeast prays for wellness, a towering pagoda and colossal Buddha bless all beings.” Guangyou Temple, this historic temple in the Northeast, has weathered centuries of change, rise and fall, hardship and glory. Today, with its profound wisdom, deep cultural significance, and magnificent architectural presence, it has become a renowned Buddhist sacred site and tourist destination.