Guangchang Dajue Temple

Guangchang Dajue Temple

Guangchang Dajue Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Dajue Temple is located on Wujialing in Dongxujiang Town, Guangchang County, covering an area of approximately 2,000 square meters with a built-up area of 1,500 square meters. It currently has 18 monks, nuns, and management staff.

The temple was first built in the 22nd year of the Shaoxing era during the Song Dynasty (1152). The existing Buddhist halls feature both Ming Dynasty structures and architectural styles from the late Qing Dynasty and the Republican era.

In the early years of the People’s Republic of China, Dajue Temple maintained its strong religious influence, with dozens of monks and nuns. By the mid-1950s, the monks and nuns were disbanded and returned to secular life, and the temple subsequently changed hands several times. In the early 1990s, the Guangchang County People’s Government implemented the Party’s religious policies and approved Dajue Temple as an open temple. With the support of relevant departments, the issue of the temple’s property rights was also properly resolved. Since then, the temple has regained its vibrancy with renewed Zen spirit and Buddhist presence.

Dajue Temple is a renowned ancient temple famous both within and beyond the province. Its fame stems from its ancient Buddha statues, timeless charm, classic ambiance, and historic stone tablets.

The divine appearance of the ancient Buddha is one of the miraculous highlights of Dajue Temple. The Guangchang County Annals from the 6th year of the Tongzhi era (1867) during the Qing Dynasty record that during the mid-Song Dynasty, an ancient Buddha statue floated down a river before moving upstream against the current of a small stream. The sight of a Buddha statue flowing against the water was considered a strange phenomenon. As a result, the spot where the statue entered the stream was called “Buddha Flow Mouth,” and where it stopped was called “Buddha Flow Source.” Then-county magistrate Zhao Yanbo built Dajue Temple at the Flow Mouth and Yongxing Temple at the Flow Source. This ancient and miraculous story of the Buddha’s divine appearance spread widely along the upper reaches of the Fu River, enhancing the temple’s reputation to some extent and adding a layer of mystique to Dajue Temple.

The naming of Dajue Temple is also extraordinary, filled with the ancient charm of Buddhist culture. A devotee once asked: What does “Dajue” mean? To understand this, one must first know the meaning of the word “Fo” (Buddha). “Fo” is short for “Fotuo” (Buddha). “Fotuo” is an ancient Indian word, and Buddhist scriptures have given it three layers of meaning: First is “right enlightenment,” which means perceiving the true nature, properties, and forms of all things without distortion or exaggeration. Second is “equal enlightenment” or “universal enlightenment,” which means not only attaining awakening oneself but also helping others equally to awaken and incline toward Buddhism and goodness. Third is “perfect enlightenment” or “supreme enlightenment,” where the wisdom and spiritual practice of self-awareness reach the highest and most complete state. This is the ultimate awakening—guiding all beings to liberation. In short, “Dajue” represents the highest level of reverence for Buddhism.

Indomitable perseverance and the courage to overcome challenges are key characteristics of Dajue Temple’s timeless spirit. The Guangchang County Annals from the Tongzhi era record that Dajue Temple was built during the mid-Song Dynasty, funded by Madam Mao, the wife of Liu Wannian, a scholar from Dongsheng Pavilion. In its early days, the Buddhist halls and monastic quarters were grand in scale, housing over 300 monks and nuns, making it one of the great temples of Jiangxi Province during the Song Dynasty. By the end of the Song Dynasty, amid social turmoil, the temple was destroyed in war and the monks were dispersed. In the early Yuan Dynasty, monks rebuilt the temple on the original site, though it was smaller than before. It was later destroyed again by fire in the late Yuan Dynasty. In the early Ming Dynasty, during the Hongwu reign, Monk Baiyun rebuilt the temple. Due to the economic strain after years of war, the reconstruction was arduous, resulting in a modest structure. However, his disciples were not discouraged by hardship but instead “tapped savings and widely solicited donations.” After generations of hard work, Dajue Temple regained the grandeur of a major temple. Structures such as the Vajra Hall, Great Buddha Hall, and Dharma Hall were built, along with Buddha statues, towers, scripture depositories, and bells and drums. “Everything a temple should have was made available. Outside the temple, bamboo and trees were planted, growing lush and dense, casting cool shade over the sky while crows cawed and sparrows chirped, making the place even more magnificent than in its initial construction.” It became more majestic than the Song-era temple.

Inscriptions by notable figures have immortalized Dajue Temple’s legacy. Though not grand in appearance—with no towering halls shaded by ancient trees or secluded valleys with cascading springs—the temple holds two treasured relics: the “Record of the Reconstruction of Dajue Temple” inscribed tablet written by He Wenyuan, Minister of Personnel in the early Ming Dynasty, and the plaque he inscribed reading “Ancient Dajue Temple,” both of which add splendor to the temple. The inscription tablet outlines the rise and fall of Dajue Temple’s Buddhist influence from the mid-Song to the mid-Ming Dynasty, depicting the temple’s former “grand halls and monastic quarters” and “glorious flourishing of Buddhist activities.” It praises the love and dedication of generations of masters who tirelessly upheld the temple’s traditions and kept its spiritual flame alive, revealing the truth that temples may fall and Buddhas may be destroyed in chaotic times, but flourish again in stable eras. The text is eloquent and emotionally resonant, with calligraphy that balances strength and grace, making it an artistic treasure promoting Buddhist culture. The inscription tablet went missing during the Cultural Revolution, leaving only the stone-carved “Dajue Temple” plaque intact. Due to its long history, Dajue Temple has been listed as a key cultural relic protection unit and a major open temple, becoming an important tourist attraction in Guangchang County.

Xujiang Town: Originally known as Chengguan Town, the town was renamed Xujiang Town in 1983 due to the prevalence of similarly named towns, reflecting its location along the Xujiang River. In 1986, the Yanjiang Township was merged into Xujiang Town. In November 2001, Xin’an Township, Kuzhu Town, and Xujiang Town were consolidated, retaining the name Xujiang Town. It administers 9 neighborhood committees, 24 village committees (including Beimen, Qingshui, Datang, Shunhua, Xiaogang, Qiaotou, and Chi’an villages within the county urban planning area), 230 village groups, and 281 natural villages. The total includes 31,056 households and a population of 79,612, of which 12,144 households are agricultural... More details about Xujiang Town++