Quanzhou Baohai Nunnery

Quanzhou Baohai Nunnery

Quanzhou Baohai Nunnery is a cultural relic protection unit of Quanzhou City.

Baohai Nunnery is located on the hillside behind Changkou Street in Licheng District, north of Quanzhou Bridge, facing west. Originally named Baolin Temple, it was first built in the fourth year of the Yongxi era during the Northern Song Dynasty (987 AD). It was destroyed by a flood during the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty and was later rebuilt during the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1661) by monk Lianxi from Mount Gu, who renamed it Baohai Nunnery. In the 33rd year of the Kangxi era (1694), scholar Huang Jingguang, along with local elders, renovated the nunnery. In the 10th year of the Guangxu era (1884), local community leaders such as Chen Xiangyuan raised funds for further restoration.

After the late Qing Dynasty, the nunnery fell into long-term disrepair and was occupied, nearly collapsing. In 1981, under the leadership of nun Lin Xianzun, with support and donations from monks Guangjing and Guang’an from Singapore and various members of the public, the rear hall and dormitories were renovated in 1984; the front hall was rebuilt in 1989; the Mahavira Hall was reconstructed in 1990, along with the construction of a kitchen and storage facilities under Quanzhou Bridge. In 1995, a three-story dormitory building behind the hall was renovated, and in 1998, the Great Compassion Hall (rear hall) was rebuilt, achieving its current scale.

The nunnery has three sections, with a total floor area of over 500 square meters. The first section is the front hall, which is three bays wide and two bays deep, with a front porch. The Mahavira Hall is three bays wide and five bays deep, featuring a hanging gable roof, and enshrines the Buddhas of the Three Ages. The rear hall is dedicated to Guanyin, including an ancient statue of the Child-Giving Guanyin holding a child. The nunnery houses three ancient stone-carved Buddha statues. Behind the nunnery there used to be a liberation pond, which has since been filled in. A stone stele inscribed with “Baohai Nunnery Liberation Pond” from the 32nd year of the Guangxu era (1906) stands to the south of the nunnery, under the bridge.