Guangzhai Temple

Guangzhai Temple

Guangzhai Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Nanjing.

Guangzhai Temple is located at No. 44 Laohutou, Qinhuai District, Nanjing, and is a cultural relic protection unit of Nanjing. It was first built in the seventh year of the Tianjian era (508 AD) during the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties, originally serving as the former residence of Emperor Wu of Liang, Xiao Yan. After Xiao Yan became emperor, he donated the residence to become a temple, which was grand in scale at the time. In the forty-sixth year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1782), a wandering monk unearthed a stone statue of Guanyin in the ruins and rebuilt the site, naming it Shiguiyin Temple. The current structures include one main hall and one rear hall.

After Xiao Yan became emperor, he converted his former residence at Sanqiaolimen, Tongxia Li, into a temple and named it Guangzhai Temple. At that time, the temple was magnificent, and Emperor Wu of Liang enshrined here an eighteen-foot-tall statue of the Buddha of Infinite Life created by Monk Yu. He also decreed the carving of a golden statue on a floral pedestal and commissioned renowned scholars such as Zhou Xingsi and Lu Gao to each compose a temple stele. Within Guangzhai Temple, there is a well, also known as “Xi’s Cave.” Legend has it that Empress Xi of Emperor Wu of Liang, who was jealous and cruel to the imperial harem, was publicly scolded by the emperor for insulting the sacred monk Baozhi. Overwhelmed with shame and anger, she threw herself into the well and died, later transforming into a giant snake that appeared in the emperor’s dreams. Deeply regretful and mourning her death, the emperor was restless and eventually posthumously honored Empress Xi as the Dragon Heavenly Maiden. To this day, locals still refer to the area where Guangzhai Temple stands as “Snake Warehouse” or “Returning Dragon Lane.”

After the Sui and Tang dynasties, the temple gradually fell into disrepair. During the Baoda era of the Southern Tang Dynasty, only a few acres of land remained, and it was renamed Faguang Temple. In the Northern Song Dynasty, monks raised funds to renovate the temple, building the main hall against the rock face and installing sixteen Buddha statues, renaming it Luyuan Temple. The famous Yuan Dynasty calligrapher and painter Zhao Mengfu and his wife Guan Daosheng once painted an image of Guanyin in the temple, which was later carved into stone.

During the Yongle era (1403–1424) of the Ming Dynasty, Master Hui Guang from the Western Regions used surplus funds from the construction of the Grand Bao’en Temple to renovate this temple, renaming it Huiguang Temple. According to the *Jinling Fansa Zhi* (Records of Buddhist Temples in Jinling), the temple grounds at that time spanned fifty zhang, and the complex included one mountain gate, one Vajra Hall, three bays for the main hall; on the right side, there were three bays for the Guan Yu Hall, five bays for the Great Compassion Hall, one bay for the Heavenly Queen Hall, three bays for the Dark Emperor Hall, and three bays for the Kṣitigarbha Hall. On the left side, there were three bays for the Five Manifestations Hall, three bays for the Guanyin Hall, as well as one bay for the Sangharama Hall, one bay for the Patriarch Hall, three bays for the Scripture Repository, six bays for the Meditation Hall, and four monk residence rooms. In the first year of the Wanli era of Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty (1573), the temple was renovated again, and a stele was erected to commemorate the event. However, after several wars, the once-renowned temple again became ruins.

In the forty-sixth year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1782), a wandering monk accidentally unearthed a stone statue of Guanyin in the ruins and managed to rebuild the temple, naming it Shiguiyin Temple. It has remained as such to this day. Currently, there is one main hall and one rear hall. The temple houses only a solitary stone statue of Guanyin, placed beside a deep well.

Guangzhai Temple, along with the nearby Zhou Chu Study Platform and the Jieziyuan Garden of the famous Qing Dynasty dramatist Li Yu, once formed a contiguous area. With Chishi Rocks in front and Egret Islet behind, it was truly a scenic gem. Nearby, there were once structures such as Ancient Cypress Nunnery, West Lotus Nunnery, and Jieyin Nunnery, all of which no longer exist.

Zhuannong Lane Community: Located at the southeastern corner of the eastern Qinhuai Gate area, it starts from Madao Street in the north, borders Xiaoxin Bridge in the east, connects to Renhou Li in the south, and adjoins the Qinhuai Foreign Language School in the west. The community includes three residential areas: Zhuannongche, Fengqinju, and Renhou Li. The total area of the community is 98,000 square meters, with 3,190 households and 7,134 residents. There is currently one senior teachers’ apartment in the community. The community office is located at 20-1 Zhuannong Lane. Historical sites within the community include Guangzhai Temple and Zhou Chu Study Platform. … Zhuannong Lane Community detailed information++