Zhongshan Baiyi Temple

Zhongshan Baiyi Temple

Zhongshan Baiyi Temple is a cultural relic protection unit in Zhongshan City.

Baiyi Temple, also known as Baiyi Nunnery, Guanyin Temple, or Purple Bamboo Zen Forest, is a key cultural relic protection unit in Zhongshan City. It is located on Anqian Mountain (formerly known as Jinshan) in Tianmen Village, Shiqi District, Zhongshan City, and was first built in the 13th year of the Chongzhen era during the Ming Dynasty (1640).

Baiyi Ancient Temple, also known as Baiyi Nunnery, Guanyin Temple, or Purple Bamboo Zen Forest, is located at No. 1 Anqian Zhengjie, Lianyuan East Road, Shiqi District.

Guanyin Bodhisattva, known in Sanskrit as Avalokitesvara (Sanskrit pronunciation: Avalokites/vara), is also called Guanyin the Free, or Guanyin the Self-Existent. The name "Guanyin" means "observing the sounds of the world and the cries for help," hence the name Guanyin. Because Guanyin is often depicted wearing white robes, she is also known as the White-Robed Guanyin. Additionally, as she is frequently shown residing in a white lotus, she is also referred to as the White-Lotus Guanyin. Buddhist scriptures state: “White represents the mind of enlightenment. To abide in this mind of enlightenment is to reside in the white abode. This mind of enlightenment originates from the realm of the Buddha, resides permanently here, and gives birth to all Buddhas. This is the mother of Guanyin, the lord of the Lotus family.” Guanyin has many forms and manifestations, but the White-Robed Guanyin—wearing a heavenly topknot crown, dressed in white, and seated amidst a white lotus—is regarded as the mother of Guanyin, the origin of all her various forms.

A temple generally refers to a serene Buddhist site inhabited by monks, while a nunnery typically denotes a place where nuns practice. When Baiyi Ancient Temple was first built, it was a meditation site for monks. Later, it was briefly inhabited by nuns, hence it was also called Baiyi Nunnery, before returning to being led by monks. Regardless of whether monks or nuns presided over it, Baiyi Temple enjoyed flourishing incense offerings, making both Baiyi Ancient Temple and Baiyi Nunnery widely renowned. In China, sacred Buddhist sites that serve as both temples and nunneries are rare, which is one of the unique features of Baiyi Ancient Temple. The temple is now overseen by Master Hongru and has reverted to its original name, “Tianmen Baiyi Ancient Temple.” In December 1990, the Zhongshan Municipal People’s Government designated Baiyi Ancient Temple as a municipal-level key cultural relic protection unit.

Shiqi District Subdistrict: Shiqi District is located in the city center, covering a total area of 49.72 square kilometers, with a registered population of 169,400 and a non-registered population of 40,900. It governs 19 community resident committees. In 2006, in line with the work requirements of “scientific development, standardized management, and humanized operations,” the district comprehensively advanced economic, political, cultural, and social construction, achieving new successes in regional economy and various undertakings. The annual gross domestic product reached 6.595 billion yuan, an increase of 18.06% over the previous year; the total industrial and agricultural output value was 7.518 billion yuan, an increase of... Detailed information about Shiqi District Subdistrict++