Yifeng Guangfu Temple

Yifeng Guangfu Temple

Yifeng Guangfu Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Entering Yifeng County and walking about 40 meters to the right of Nanping Park, you will find the renowned Guangfu Temple, a branch temple of the Caodong ancestral temple in Yifeng. The temple’s gate tower shines brilliantly, with an upper couplet on the gateposts that reads: “The bright moon graces the sky, reflected in every stream;” and a lower couplet: “When fallen, each pearl is perfectly round.” These lines reflect the profound depth of Buddhist teachings. Passing through the gate tower leads you to the front courtyard of Guangfu Temple, where the couplets on both sides convey the essence of Buddhism: Horizontal scroll: Salvation for All Beings

Upper Couplet: Watching the tides from the north shore, saving all from suffering, hoping all beings will turn back to the shore;

Lower Couplet: The Guanyin of the South Sea, greatly compassionate and merciful, protects all beings from the sea of suffering.

Maitreya Bodhisattva (Sanskrit: Maitreya), translated as the Loving One, transliterated as Mileyya or Metteyya, is one of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas in Buddhism. In Mahayana Buddhist scriptures, he is also often referred to as Ajita Bodhisattva and is the successor of Shakyamuni Buddha. He is commonly revered as Maitreya Buddha. Revered as the founder by the Yogacara school, his vast system of thought was elaborated and promoted by the Bodhisattvas Asanga and Vasubandhu, and he is highly respected by eminent Chinese Buddhist masters such as Dao’an and Xuanzang.

Guanyin, Sanskrit name Avalokitesvara, transliterated as Avalokiteśvara. A bodhisattva whose fundamental vow is to compassionately save all beings. Also known as Guangshi Zun, Guanzizai, Guanzizizai, Guanshizizai, Xianyinsheng, and Kuiyin. Commonly abbreviated as Guanyin Bodhisattva. Other titles include Savior Bodhisattva, Lotus-Hand Bodhisattva, and Yuan Tong Da Shi. Another Sanskrit name is Aryavalokitesvara, transliterated as Aryavalokiteśvara, meaning Holy Guanyin. Together with Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, she is one of the Three Saints of the West, attendants of Amitabha Buddha in the Western Pure Land. It is said that any being in distress who chants her name will be immediately heard and rescued by her, hence the name Guanyin Bodhisattva. She is also called Guanzizai Bodhisattva because she perceives all things freely and clearly in the realm of unobstructed wisdom and phenomena.

The rear courtyard enshrines Shakyamuni Buddha, where the incense is especially strong, and worshippers coming to pray and fulfill vows come in an endless stream. Shakyamuni, originally named Siddhartha Gautama, was a member of the Shakya clan in ancient India and the founder of Buddhism. After attaining Buddhahood, Shakyamuni was honored as the Buddha, and lay followers often call him the Buddha or the Enlightened One, meaning one who has fully comprehended the universe and life. The couplet on both sides of the Buddha hall reads: Upper Couplet: Morning bells and evening drums awaken those chasing worldly fame and profit; Lower Couplet: Chanting of scriptures and Buddha’s name calls back lost travelers in the sea of suffering.

This Guangfu Temple was established by Abbot Chunyi over 30 years ago. Nestled against green mountains and bamboo groves, facing murmuring streams, with morning bells, evening drums, and curling incense smoke, it seems to tell ancient tales one after another.