Xinbin Sanjiao Temple

Xinbin Sanjiao Temple

Xinbin Sanjiao Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Xinbin Sanjiao Temple in Xinbin Manchu Autonomous County, Liaoning Province, has a long history spanning over 300 years. It was originally built during the reign of Nurhaci of the Qing Dynasty's Aisin-Gioro clan. At that time, the temple had 18 halls and was a place where Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism were practiced together.

Through the vicissitudes of history and changes of the times, in November 1990, with the approval of the county government and in order to implement...

The temple originally had 18 halls and was a place where Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism were practiced together.

In November 1990, with the approval of the county government and in order to implement the Party’s religious policies, it was decided to restore Sanjiao Temple. Three main halls were returned to the county Buddhist association. In 1996, five rooms occupied by the county knitting factory were reclaimed for use as spaces for religious activities. On September 25, 1998, due to the expansion of the Southeast Highway, Sanjiao Temple was relocated. On October 28, 1999, with the approval of the county government, Sanjiao Temple was rebuilt at the foot of the Nanshan TV Tower in Xinbin Town. It now covers an area of 4,800 square meters, with a construction area of 1,560 square meters.

At that time, Sanjiao Temple was managed by the county Buddhist association. On September 23, 2009, Venerable Juehui was invited to serve as the abbot of Sanjiao Temple. In October 2006, with the approval of the county ethnic and religious affairs bureau, Master Shi Juehui was appointed as the head monk of Sanjiao Temple, officially placing the management of the temple in the hands of monks.

To date, the temple has completed construction of a 350-square-meter Mahavira Hall, a 100-square-meter Guanyin Hall, a 690-square-meter east side hall, a 690-square-meter west side hall, a 50-square-meter bell tower, and a 50-square-meter drum tower, with a total investment of over 4 million yuan. Plans were also made to begin construction in April 2012 on the rear main hall of Sanjiao Temple. This building will feature an imitation Ming and Qing dynasty style, with all-solid wood construction and three floors. The hall will cover a construction area of over 700 square meters, stand 18 meters high, be 20 meters wide, and 36 meters long, in a seven-bay, nine-room traditional architectural style. All timber used in the construction of the hall was imported from countries such as Russia and Mongolia, all of which are high-quality first-grade lumber. The construction of the rear hall is expected to require an investment of about 8 million yuan. Once completed, the hall will become a new highlight of the Nanshan Scenic Area in Xinbin County. Master Shi Juehui was born in July 1956 and became a monk in 1982 at Shandan Grand Buddha Temple in Gansu under the guidance of Venerable Benxing. In October 1983, he received full monastic precepts from Venerable Yicheng at Yunju Mountain in Yongxiu County, Jiangxi Province, and studied under Venerable Dadingshi for ten years in seclusion at Yunju Mountain. Later, he studied under Venerable Benhuan and underwent a three-year retreat at Bi-Chuan Temple on Danxia Mountain in Renhua County, Guangdong Province. After completing the retreat, he continued his studies under Venerable Shengyi in Hong Kong and received strong support from him. He helped restore and rebuild Shandan Grand Buddha Temple, Shengtian Temple, and Yuantong Temple in Minle, Gansu. The indoor seated Buddha at Shandan Grand Buddha Temple, which he helped build, stands 35 meters tall, with the building itself reaching 46 meters — the tallest of its kind in China.

In 1993, he received the Weiyang School Dharma lineage from Venerable Dadingshi at Yunju Mountain; in September 2002, on the 13th, he received esoteric initiation from Guru YuanYin in Shanghai; in February 2009, on the 16th, he received the Linji School Dharma lineage from Venerable Benhuan in Shenzhen, becoming the second-generation lineage holder and serving as the first seat.

Venerable Juehui is now a contemporary monastic practitioner who embodies the combined practices of Chan (Zen), Pure Land, and Esoteric Buddhism. For many years, he has traveled across the country to promote Buddhist teachings. During his more than 10 years as abbot of Sanjiao Temple, he has consistently upheld the principles of discipline and frugality in running the temple. He never reimburses travel expenses or medical costs, strictly observes precepts, and leads by example. He once said, “People love gold, but I love a moment of silence; gold confuses the mind, while silence reveals true nature.” The venerable monk remains committed to patriotism, love for Buddhism, compassion, and benefiting the world. Sanjiao Temple has donated over 80,000 yuan to earthquake victims in Sichuan and more than 40,000 yuan to those in Yushu, Qinghai. The temple also earnestly implements the Party’s policy on freedom of religious belief, actively maintains social and political stability, remains devoted in faith, studies the Dharma, and follows a path of harmony between religion and society.