Yaowang Temple

Yaowang Temple

Yaowang Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Located in the Yaowang Temple Health Culture Zone, it was invested in and built by Liaoning Wangfo Chan Temple, with an investment of 120 million yuan, covering an area of 100 mu and a construction area of 9,000 square meters. It is planned to be built in two phases: the first phase includes projects such as the main hall and dining hall, while the second phase includes buildings such as the Heavenly King Hall, Guanyin Hall, and Mountain Gate Hall. The first phase project is scheduled to commence at the end of June 2013 and be completed by the end of May 2014.

The original site was located in the southwest of Fengnan District, Tangshan City (now Dongtianzhuang Township), and was first built in the 27th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty. For hundreds of years, it enjoyed flourishing incense offerings and many legendary tales. Every year on the 28th day of the fourth lunar month, the temple fair is held, attracting people from hundreds of miles around who gather here to seek medical advice, inquire about medicine, burn incense, fulfill vows, and donate money and goods. According to records from the temple’s divination cloth, worshippers came from 18 counties across 7 provinces.

In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Li Laixiu, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy who ranked third in the imperial examination, served as the magistrate of Miyun County. Due to court intrigue, he was replaced by someone else. Disillusioned with worldly affairs, and to avoid war, Li took refuge in the Yaowang Temple in western Fengnan, where he shaved his head and became a monk. In the early years of the Shunzhi reign, he attained enlightenment, and passed away in the temple in the 39th year of the Kangxi reign. He was known as Monk Han- or Old Immortal.

The venerable monk Hánhóng achieved perfect merit, and his body was enshrined and remained incorrupt for a hundred years, greatly enhancing the fame of Yaowang Temple, which flourished and became a renowned temple within the Jingdong region. Due to historical reasons, the temple was destroyed and reduced to ruins. Approved by the Religious Affairs Bureau of the People's Government of Hebei Province, the Tangshan Municipal Government allocated 100 mu of land for the reconstruction of the temple.

Venerable Master Shangguo Xiaozheng, driven by compassion and the bodhisattva vow, pledged to rebuild Yaowang Temple. This endeavor fulfills the compassionate aspirations of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout the ten directions and three times, and meets the hopes of all sentient beings in the six realms to be free from suffering and attain happiness. The project aims to establish a Pure Land of Amitabha, promote the true Dharma, awaken the compassionate, guide and deliver all beings with karmic affinity, helping them to be free from suffering, attain happiness, and realize enlightenment sooner.

After completion, Yaowang Temple will offer free access for people from all walks of life and devotees to worship and pay homage. The charitable retirement home provides a free sanctuary for elderly Buddhist disciples to spend their later years and a place for chanting the Buddha’s name and attaining rebirth.