The Great Mercy Pavilion in Haikou

The Great Mercy Pavilion in Haikou

The Great Mercy Pavilion is situated in Xiayao Residential Group, Xaguang Neighborhood Committee, Bailong Township, Zhendong District, Haikou City. Historical records from the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1573–1619) indicate that Tu Wenkui, the prefect, and Xu Ziwei, an imperial censor, promoted the establishment of the Mingchang Pagoda to enhance Hainan’s scholarly atmosphere. The pagoda complex included the Jingshi Hall, Wenchang Pavilion, and Guan Di Temple. Later, Monk Yili raised funds to construct the Great Mercy Pavilion next to the pagoda, enshrining the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion (from which the pavilion gets its name), to promote Buddhism. This site thus became a Buddhist sanctuary. In the third year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1738), Monk Fakong oversaw its renovation.

In the sixth year of the Qianlong reign (1741), the prefect Zhang Bingyi relocated the Guan Di Temple and exclusively honored the Great Mercy Pavilion. The Guan Di Temple later became known as the "Mingchang Ancestral Temple," continuing to enshrine Guan Yu, not far from the Great Mercy Pavilion. Due to lack of protection, the building fell into disrepair, cultural relics were stolen, and precious murals were severely damaged. In mid-October 1998, it was demolished to make way for the construction of Guoxing Avenue.

In the sixteenth year of the Daoguang reign (1836), Daoist Zhang Shouchun advocated for the renovation of both the Great Mercy Pavilion and the Mingchang Pagoda, receiving enthusiastic support from local gentry and residents. According to local resident Wen Guocai, the Great Mercy Pavilion was destroyed in an accident: in May 1956, dozens of tons of materials stored inside the pavilion for water conservancy projects suddenly exploded, completely leveling the structure. The gold-laminated statue of the Bodhisattva inside was obliterated, and a water buffalo was also killed in the blast. In 1990, Sun Bangkui, a respected elder among the local residents, initiated efforts to rebuild the Great Mercy Pavilion, prompting widespread public donations.

The reconstruction was overseen by Wang Mingzhao, Sun Shisan, Wen Guocai, Sun Bangfu, and Sun Bangfu, with fundraising led by the Xiayao and Wazao residential groups along with the Haikou Taguang Agricultural, Industrial, Commercial, and Trade Corporation. A total of over 660,000 yuan was raised to construct a Maitreya Hall, an Incense Pavilion, a Guanyin Hall, and three east-west wing rooms. The project was completed in the winter of 1991, largely restoring the site to its original Qing Dynasty appearance.

Scenic Area Address: Xingdan Second Cross Road, Qiongshan District, Haikou City, Hainan Province

Transportation: Take bus routes 11, 14, 1, 37, 38, 41, or K3 within Haikou City to get there