Guanyin Mountain Zen Temple

Guanyin Mountain Zen Temple

Guanyin Mountain Zen Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Yangzhou City.

Guanyin Mountain Zen Temple is located in the southeastern part of Taizhou, Jiangsu. The history of the temple, including its founding date, is unknown. During the late Qing and early Republican period, a certain abbot was not adept at management, resulting in the dilapidated state of the halls and Buddha statues. Local gentry, admiring the prestige and virtue of Venerable Yucheng from Hongkai Temple in Qutang, invited him to serve as abbot. Venerable Yu responded to the call with reluctance, and after taking office, repaired the halls, regilded the statues, and gave the temple a completely renewed appearance, bringing joy to all. As Venerable Yu also served as the head monk of the state's monastic administration, he was too busy with official duties to reside permanently at the temple, so he entrusted its management to his disciple, Venerable Daoju. The latter carried on his teacher’s mission, managing the temple diligently for the benefit of all beings, and gradually improving its affairs. During Venerable Yu’s tenure as head of the state’s monastic administration, he quelled the anti-monastery school movement initiated by the Qing court, safeguarded the continuity of Buddhist practices, the livelihood of monks, and nurtured monastic talent to sustain the Dharma. His meritorious deeds were boundless. He also trained his grand-disciples, Venerables Wenxin and Zhiguang, who made significant progress in study and practice. Venerable Wen was invited to serve as abbot of Kaihuazhen Temple in Taicheng. Venerable Zhi was invited to preside over the Dharma seat at Dinghui Temple on Jiaoshan in Zhenjiang. Venerable Wen’s disciple, Venerable Aiting, became abbot of Zhulin Temple in Zhenjiang. Venerable Zhi’s disciple, Venerable Nanting, became abbot of Guangxiao Temple in Taicheng. Venerable Ai’s disciple, Venerable Cunyuan, presided over the Dharma seat at Baoguang Temple in Yizheng. Venerable Nan’s disciple, Venerable Shanyuan, presided over the Dharma seat at Juezheng Temple in Taicheng. Venerable Cun’s disciples, Venerables Zi Yi and Shou Yi, saw the former become abbot of Qixia Mountain and Pude Temples in Nanjing, while the latter became abbot of Chengguang Temple in Yixing. Venerable Shan’s disciples, Venerables Cheng Yi and Guo Yi, with the latter having once presided over the Dharma seat at Yusheng Temple in Taicheng.

Huaisi Town: Yangzhou once had city gates, though those under 60 today probably don’t remember what they looked like. Yet among the locals, Yangzhou still has its “gates,” one in each of the four directions—east, west, south, and north. However, these “gates” are not gates in the traditional sense, but rather represent the city’s main entrances and exits. For example, the area near the South Ring Expressway is called the “South Gate,” the entry point from the Liaojiagou Bridge is known as the “East Gate,” Jiangwang Town in Hanjiang District is considered the “West Gate,” and as for the North Gate, although both Xihu Town and Huaisi Town are candidates, locals have long agreed that only Huaisi Town truly qualifies.

Generally speaking... More details about Huaisi Town ++

Further reading:

· Yangzhou’s First to Third Batch of Municipal Cultural Relic Protection Units