Fengning Temple

Fengning Temple

Fengning Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Foshan City.

Located beside the former National Highway 325 Lanshi section, now on Zhonglu in Shiwan Subdistrict. It sits at the southern foot of Lianzigang and is adjacent to Lianfeng Academy. It is the only Buddhist temple in Shiwan and one of the town’s four major historic sites. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty, it underwent renovations in the 56th year of the Kangxi reign (1717), the 19th year of the Jiaqing reign (1814), as well as during the Tongzhi era and early Republican period, and still stands today. The temple is built along the mountain slope, facing south with its back to the north, situated 0.8 meters above the road surface and gradually ascending northward. Majestic in appearance and expansive in area, it consists of three halls: the front hall, middle hall, and main hall. The layout is rectangular, extending 52.47 meters from north to south and 14.24 meters from east to west, with a total floor area of 747.17 square meters. The temple once enshrined the Three Jewels Buddha, Four Heavenly Kings, Eighteen Arhats, Ten Kings, a seated statue of Guanyin, Guan Di, and the Goddess Zhunti (all no longer extant), and the architecture also featured ancient artworks such as stone carvings, wood carvings, lime sculptures, and ceramic figurines (still preserved).

Legend has it that a provincial governor, while inspecting the Jiangnan region, visited Shiwan and was greeted by a scene of bountiful harvest and peaceful, prosperous residents. He then petitioned the imperial court to reward the local people by commissioning the construction of a temple, which was granted. An imperial envoy, Master Zhang Yuanxu, was dispatched to supervise the temple’s construction in Shiwan. Several years later, the temple was completed. The hall was adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, the Buddha shone in golden radiance, and the arhats looked solemn and majestic. When deciding on a name for the temple, Master Zhang found himself at a loss. One day, a barefoot boy of about thirteen or fourteen, dressed in tattered clothes and standing in front of the temple gate, was loudly selling vegetables. Upon seeing the abbot emerge, the boy bowed slightly and said, “I’m here selling vegetables to support and care for my mother.” He then added to the abbot, “I’m Lun Wenxu (a native of present-day Lichong Village, Lanshi, who later topped the imperial examination as the top scholar), and I sell vegetables here every day—everyone knows that. If I’m causing any disturbance, please forgive me, master.” Impressed by the boy’s courtesy and eloquence, Master Zhang proposed, “Let me give you an upper couplet—can you come up with the lower one?” Lun Wenxu replied, “I’d be honored to try.” Master Zhang recited: “齐齐斋齐齐戒齐斋齐戒神恩广大” (“Together we fast, together we abstain, together we fast and abstain—the divine grace is boundless”). Without hesitation, Lun Wenxu responded: “朝朝朝朝朝拜朝朝朝拜功德无涯” (“Day after day we worship, day after day we pay homage—the merit is infinite”). Master Zhang was astonished by the boy’s brilliant reply and said, “I’ve traveled far and wide, yet no one could match that upper line. Now, you’ve completed the couplet perfectly—you truly are a rare genius!” He then invited Lun Wenxu into the temple for a chat, and the boy gladly accepted. Master Zhang then said, “This temple has just been built, but we’ve yet to decide on a name. Would you be so kind as to suggest one and inscribe it for us?” Lun Wenxu picked up a brush and wrote two elegant and neatly formed characters: “丰宁” (“Fengning,” meaning “Abundant Harvest and Peace”). He explained, “When the governor toured the south, he praised Shiwan for its seasonal harvests and the peace of its people. That inspired this name.” Delighted, Master Zhang applauded in admiration. Later, a wandering eminent monk visited the site, took great delight in the name “丰宁,” and, admiring Lun Wenxu’s calligraphy, added the character “寺” (“temple”) in his style. Since then, “丰宁寺” (“Fengning Temple”) has enjoyed enduring fame.

Shiwan Subdistrict: Shiwan Subdistrict is located in the southeastern part of Chancheng District, on the northern bank of the Dongping River, a tributary of the Beijiang River. It borders Nanhai District to the east, faces Shunde District to the south, connects with Zhangcha Subdistrict to the west, and leans against Zhumiao Subdistrict to the north. It is an important part of Foshan’s urban core and the seat of the Chancheng District Committee and District Government. The subdistrict covers an area of 26.62 square kilometers, governs 12 administrative villages and 24 community neighborhood committees, and has a permanent population of around 300,000. Shiwan enjoys a well-developed transportation network, with several key urban trunk roads in Foshan—including Jihua Road, Kuiqi Road, Foshan Avenue, and Lingnan Avenue—running east-west and north-south through the area. Operational and upcoming... Detailed information on Shiwan Subdistrict++