Dayu Guajiao Temple

Dayu Guajiao Temple

Dayu Guajiao Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Guajiao Temple, also known as Yunfeng Temple, is located on Meiling Mountain at the border between Dayu in Jiangxi and Nanxiong in Guangdong. Meiling features the Meiguan Pass, which marks the boundary between Jiangxi and Guangdong. The original temple was situated on the southern slope of the pass gate, now on an open space opposite the eastern side of the Sixth Patriarch Temple. Inside the temple are statues of Zhang Jiuling and Zhang Bi, hence it is also called Zhanggong Ancestral Hall, or the “Two Zhangs” Ancestral Hall, in honor of their achievements in opening the mountain pass and building the courier road. The ancestral hall was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, leaving only a stone tablet inscribed with a poem about crossing the ridge. Yunfeng Temple has the following couplet: "The courier pauses his horse beneath the blossoms; / The temple gate is shut deep behind the mountaintop clouds."

Today, Yunfeng Temple has been relocated to the foothills on the northern side of the ridge, beside the ancient courier road (donated by Buddhist devotees). Guajiao Temple has a widely circulated legend: It is said that in ancient times, a Chan (Zen) Buddhist monk named Zhengyi wanted to establish a temple on Yashan in Dayu. So he traveled to the home of a wealthy man in Wengyuan, Guangdong, to beg for alms, hoping to collect some money. Unexpectedly, the miserly landlord not only refused to donate but also posed a vexing challenge. He said, “I’ve just built 100 new rooms here. If you monks can move them away, foundations and all, I’ll consider it a contribution to the Buddha.” Left with no choice, Zhengyi returned to Jiangxi. On the way, he encountered Lü Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals. Seeing Zhengyi dejected, and though immortals and Buddhists usually have nothing to do with each other, Lü Dongbin took the initiative to ask, “Why the long face?” Zhengyi told him what had happened. After hearing the story, Lü Dongbin grabbed Zhengyi and returned with him to the landlord’s house to ask again. When the landlord saw the two of them, he laughed heartily and said, “It’s not that I refuse to give. As long as you can move the houses, foundations and all, I’ll consider it a donation.” Lü Dongbin then pressed, “No joke, right?” The landlord, unaware of the immortal’s powers, immediately replied, “I won’t go back on my word.” So Lü Dongbin cast a spell, lifted all 100 houses with a single wooden pole, and flew off with them. Just as they were about to cross the Meiling Pass, another monk suddenly appeared and asked Lü Dongbin for a house, saying, “Leave one for me to practice here too!” So Lü Dongbin knocked one house off and placed it on the open flatland on the southern slope—this became Guajiao Temple. The remaining 99 houses were placed on Yashan, becoming Lingyan Temple. Guajiao Temple has the following couplet:

Since when have I lingered here, / A chance host upon the ridge, / Still imagining the grace of ages past;

Lifting my head, I ask if I might / Dwell amidst these mountains, / To tend the myriad blossoms of the plum.

Ancient temple hidden in the hills, / Outsiders busy at the gate – Couplet at the gate of Yunfeng Temple (Guajiao Temple) on Dayu Ridge.

The courier pauses his horse beneath the blossoms; / The temple gate is shut deep behind the mountaintop clouds – Couplet at the gate of Yunfeng Temple (Guajiao Temple) on Dayu Ridge.