Jinjiang Dajue Temple

Jinjiang Dajue Temple

Jinjiang Dajue Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Dajue Temple is located in Dongshi, Jinjiang. It was personally built by the modern eminent monk Master Ruijin. With its innovative structure and unique style, and being adjacent to the historically and culturally valuable Dongshi Ancient Fortress, the temple complements the fortress beautifully, earning fame both domestically and internationally.

Master Ruijin, whose courtesy name was Jisheng, literary name Shuizhen, secular surname Cai, given name Defen, and dharma name Lunsheng, was born on the 29th day of the 12th lunar month in 1905 in Dongting Village, Dongshi Town, Jinjiang County, Fujian Province. At the age of just twelve in 1916, he entered Nanan’s Xuefeng Temple to become a monk, receiving the dharma name Ruijin. In the 1940s, while serving as abbot of Longjiang Temple, Master Ruijin conceived the idea of building another Buddhist temple in his hometown to promote Buddhism. In the spring of 1948, he, together with

Master Shanqi, was invited to the Philippines to serve as abbot of Manila’s Xinyuan Temple. He returned to his hometown multiple times to advocate for the construction of the temple. Finally, in April 1993, the foundation was laid, and the temple was completed in the winter of 1994.

Dajue Temple has two mountain gates. The first gate is constructed from granite, featuring three openings adorned with green jade stone carvings of birds and beasts. The central gate lintel bears the three characters “大觉寺” (Dajue Temple), inscribed in Zhao Puchu’s calligraphy,

in gold. The couplet on the side pillars reads: “Entering the mountain gate, one must let go of worldly thoughts and distractions; ascending the path to enlightenment, one must uphold right mindfulness and compassion.” The side gate couplet reads: “In the vast realm, illusions cease; in the sea of awakening, the moon of nature shines bright.” The gate inscriptions “入解脱门” (Enter the Gate of Liberation) and “行菩萨道” (Follow the Bodhisattva Path), written by Xie Chengguang, chairman of the Xiamen Federation of Literary and Art Circles, are in gold-plated characters—bold, solemn, and harmoniously integrated into the elegant overall design.

The second gate is an arched structure made of brick and stone. The arch is built from milky-white granite, while the gatehouse is constructed with red bricks and gray tiles, appearing both grand and dignified yet simple and classic. The couplet reads: “Proclaiming eastward, the five ethnic groups ascend to the sacred land; the sound of awakening shakes the west, guiding all beings into the gate of mystery.” It was composed by Master Chuan Yin and calligraphed by Lin Hanzong. The horizontal plaque “大觉寺” (Dajue Temple) is written in Qian Juntao’s

cursive script style—vigorous and powerful, clearly the work of a master. The couplets are carved from white marble, gilded, and then inlaid into the red brick pillars, exuding great charm.

Passing through the arched gate, you’ll find a majestic temple complex. In front of the temple lies a spacious open area shaded by six 30-year-old banyan trees with deep roots and lush foliage that block out the sun. The meticulously arranged flower stands display seasonal blooms, greenery, and fragrances.

The temple building is a three-story structure that blends Chinese and Western architectural styles, built with reinforced concrete. The lower level serves as the temple’s base and a dining hall that can accommodate over 40 tables. The second and third floors each have four suites with aluminum alloy windows.

The second floor features a worship pavilion connecting to the main temple. On both sides are stone staircases; by holding the railing and ascending the steps, you can reach the Yuantong Hall dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva. The seal script characters “大觉寺” (Dajue Temple) above the hall’s gate were written by the artist Ding Ding. The Mahavira Hall on the third floor houses the Three Great Buddhas (Shakyamuni Buddha, Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, and Amitabha Buddha), all with kind and vivid expressions.

The large stone pillars in the hall are engraved with couplets written by notable figures such as Yu Youren, Pan Ruojun, Master Yiyin (Hongyi), and Master Ruijin: “To save suffering and respond to calls is solely to achieve perfect penetration through the ears” (Yu Youren); “Hearing the evening drums and morning bells awakens one to the great dream of worldly ties; hearing scriptures and chants leads to sudden realization of true nature” (Pan Ruojun); “Entering the treasury of all wisdom, all Buddhas constantly offer protection; liberating countless beings, boundless blessings naturally adorn oneself” (Master Yiyin); “The compassionate Buddha perfectly fulfills all virtues as the teacher of the Saha world; the awakened Bodhisattva encompasses all perfections as the guide of the Dharma realm” (Master Ruijin). The famous quotes, combined with exquisite carving, truly make them masterpieces.