Baique Temple

Baique Temple

Baique Temple is located in Baifo Village, approximately 10 kilometers northeast of Nanhe County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province. Originally built during the Northern Zhou Dynasty of the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, the temple faces south and covers an area of over 100 acres. The current abbot is Venerable Shi Wugui.

In the late Northern and Southern Dynasties, this area was a strip of forest. Canals crisscrossed the land, with clear waters and lush grass, and flocks of white birds gathered here. Venerable Dezheng from Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, came here to study Buddhism and was so moved by the scenery that he exclaimed, “Though not in the south of the Yangtze River, it surpasses it.” He then made a vow to build a temple here to deliver all beings and relieve them from the suffering of life and death—thus began the founding of Baique Temple. Later, the nunnery housed over 500 female monastics, with streams of pilgrims and worshippers. Later, Guanyin Bodhisattva incarnated as the daughter of King Mizong of Shunde Prefecture (now Xingtai) and renounced worldly life to practice at Baifo Store. She even gouged out her own eyes to cure her father’s illness, demonstrating boundless compassion. Her spiritual achievements gave rise to the manifestation of the “Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin Bodhisattva,” who protects all beings. Hence, Baique Temple became renowned as the “Guanyin Bodhisattva Female Monastic Sacred Site.”

Since then, the temple has received great reverence through successive dynasties. It was expanded during the first year of the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty, the 15th year of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty, the 50th year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, the 40th year of the Qianlong era, and the 3rd year of the Jiaqing era (inscriptions from these expansions can still be found at Baique Temple today). By the sixth year of the Republic of China, Baique Temple was destroyed in war, leaving only two halls remaining, but the incense offerings continued. Nun Master Juelin managed the temple with great hardship, maintaining the Three Jewels and continuing the Buddha’s wisdom.

In 1988, after the implementation of the Party’s religious policy, Baique Temple was approved for opening by the People’s Government of Hebei Province and the Hebei Buddhist Association as the “Baique Temple Female Monastic Sacred Site in Nanhe County, Hebei Province.” Abbess Venerable Shi Nengwen took in over a hundred disciples and, together with them, undertook fundraising efforts to restore and rebuild the temple. They successively rebuilt the Dabeian Nunnery (1988), the Ksitigarbha Hall (1989), and the Mahavira Hall (1998) on the original site. The temple’s influence extended to several surrounding provinces and cities, making it the largest female monastic sacred site in Hebei Province. After Abbess Venerable Shi Nengwen passed away on the eighth day of the third lunar month in 2002, the cremation ceremony was presided over by Venerable Master Jinghui, Vice President of the Buddhist Association of China and President of the Hebei Buddhist Association, resulting in the discovery of several relics. A stupa was built behind the temple for devotees to pay their respects. Later, the abbess position was succeeded by her disciple, Venerable Shi Wugui, who constructed the Heavenly King Hall (2001), east and west monk quarters, and the Prajna Hall (2002). Since then, Baique Temple has taken initial shape. Under the leadership of Venerable Wugui, daily morning and evening bells and drums, chanting sessions, and sutra recitations continue, touching the hearts of sentient beings in this world.

Currently, Baique Temple has over 30 resident monastics and holds two major Buddhist events each year (on the fourth day of the fourth lunar month and the 25th day of the ninth lunar month). Starting in 2004, the temple also regularly hosts Buddhist cultural calligraphy and painting exhibitions annually.