Huilai Xilai Temple

Huilai Xilai Temple

Huilai Xilai Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Xilai Temple is located in Shangcun, Xixi Town, on the western bank of Longxi, thirty-five li west of Huilai County, Guangdong Province, and is part of the ancient road into Chaoshan. According to the *Huilai County Annals*, the Tang Dynasty monk Dadian received Dharma transmission from the Chan master Shitou Xiqian. During the Yuanhe era, he came to Chaoshan and passed through Longxi Xixi Township just as the locals were praying for rain during a drought. Monk Dadian vowed to pray for rain, pledging that if it did not come, he would engage in self-immolation. His sincerity moved heaven, and rain arrived as promised. The villagers revered Dadian as “—”. Later, an Ancestral Hall was established, and generations have worshipped him there. In the fourth year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, Magistrate Yang Mengxun raised funds to build monastic quarters and cast a statue of the venerable Dadian, naming the site Ancestral Master Hermitage, which enjoyed flourishing incense offerings. In the Dingchou year of the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, the garrison commander of Jieshi, Chen Wanquan, added a front pavilion; in the Bingshen year of the Kangxi era, Magistrate Tong Shihou renovated the temple; in the Renxu year of the Qianlong era, County Magistrate Yang Zongbing and Prefect Ma Xining further reinforced the walls; in the Wuxu year, the Longjiang garrison commander Chen Dengkui and Yang Chang carried out additional repairs. In the Jiuhai year, local scholar Cai Shipi wrote the *Preface to the Reconstruction of the Longjiang West Ancestral Master Temple*, documenting the reasons for the construction. Over the dynasties, many literati composed poems and couplets for the temple. Inside, there is also a *Prohibition Plaque* from the seventeenth year of the Qianlong era issued by County Magistrate Zhang, recording the charitable acts of scholars Cai Zhensheng and Cai Shijiang, father and son, in constructing Xilai Bridge.

The main hall of Xilai Temple is the Ancestral Hall of Dadian, flanked by a couplet that reads: “The great master, revered for eternity by Longxi, embodies dignity; Dadian sings and dances, celebrating his eternal birthday with wishes for long life.” To the east are the Mahavira Hall and the guest hall; to the west are the Ancestral Masters Hall of past generations and the monks’ quarters.

Monk Chengfa, at the age of 29, became a disciple of Master Xuyun and took monastic vows. After residing at Xilai Temple, he practiced diligently and treated illnesses and averted disasters for the local people. He passed away in 1982 at the age of 67. The entire community mourned, and Xixi School suspended classes for a day. Many monks traveled from afar, day and night, to attend his funeral at Xilai Temple.

In 1983, Master Weixiu succeeded as abbot. With the support of overseas Chinese and local devotees, he renovated Xilai Temple extensively. In 1994, Master Zhiyun took charge of the temple and constructed a two-story Baotong Pavilion, with Baotong Retreat built to its right. In 1995, Master Chuanlin became abbot and erected a three-gate, two-story archway-style mountain gate 200 meters in front of Baotong Pavilion to commemorate the virtues of the venerable Dadian. In 1997, Master Chuanshun took the helm and raised 100,000 yuan to install one kilometer of streetlights in front of the ancient temple. The total area of the temple complex is 4,783 square meters.

Xixi Town: Xixi Town is under the jurisdiction of Huilai County. It is located in the central part of the county. The town seat was established as a village in the early Ming Dynasty, named Xixi because it lies on the western bank of the Long River. The town takes its name from the seat. The town government is located in Xiyicun, 14 kilometers from Huicheng. It sits on the right bank of the middle reaches of the Long River. The northwest is hilly, while the central and southern parts are plains, covering an area of 52 square kilometers. In 1987, the population was 37,600. There are 24,600 mu of mountainous land, with 16,000 mu planted with various fruit trees, including 8,590 mu of lychee. There are 21,700 mu of arable land, mainly growing rice, sweet potatoes, and peanuts. There are four mountain ponds and reservoirs with a total capacity of 1.68 million cubic meters. There are seven township-run industrial enterprises. … More detailed information about Xixi Town ++