Guanyin Temple on the South Bank

Guanyin Temple on the South Bank

Guanyin Temple on the South Bank is a cultural tourism attraction.

Chongqing’s Nan’an District Guanyin Temple is an excellent site that combines religious culture and art with spiritual activities. Located on Xuefu Avenue in Nan’an District, it faces west and backs onto the Nanshan Mountain. The ancient temple was originally built during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, situated by the Yuxi River and Yuxi Bridge, hence its name Yuxi Bridge Guanyin Temple. Before liberation, it served as a family temple; now it functions as a nunnery following the orthodox Linji school. After liberation, religious activities ceased, the nuns dispersed, and the temple fell into disrepair. In 1982, it reopened, with new Buddha halls and auxiliary buildings constructed, giving it a completely renewed look. Today, there are 11 bhikkhunis and over 20 resident lay practitioners.

In 1982, Guanyin Temple on the South Bank was approved by the Chongqing Municipal Government as a Buddhist activity site. In 1994, the Nan’an District Government of Chongqing issued a “Religious Activity Site” registration certificate to the temple, with Venerable Changmin serving as the abbess. In 2007, the Nan’an District Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau issued a new certificate (No. Yu F000090003), designating it as a municipal-level religious activity site. When it first reopened, the temple buildings were in severe disrepair. Under the correct leadership of the Party and government, the temple’s management organization united the devoted worshippers, promoted the pioneering spirit of patriotism, love for Buddhism, and hard work, and through the dedicated efforts of two generations of abbesses, donations from followers, and support from patrons, Guanyin Temple on the South Bank has gradually flourished and become a well-known temple across the city.

Guanyin Temple on the South Bank covers an area of 1,704 square meters and consists of three buildings, with the current floor space totaling nearly 6,000 square meters. All structures are made of reinforced concrete. The main building is 30 meters tall, featuring red walls, yellow tiles, upturned eaves, and is both majestic and spectacular, with 11 halls in total. The first floor houses the Maitreya Hall, Seven Buddhas Hall, and the God of Wealth Hall. The mezzanine between the first and second floors includes the Kṣitigarbha Hall, Amitabha Hall, and Jade Guanyin Hall. The second floor contains the Mahavira Hall and Skanda Hall. The third floor enshrines a wooden statue of the Four-faced Thousand-armed Guanyin, while the fourth floor is the Scripture Depository. The total floor area of the halls is 2,200 square meters. This architectural layout of halls is rare among temple constructions. To the east of the main building is the comprehensive building, with the Historical Guanyin Hall on the first floor. To the south is the Dining Hall.

The grand gate of Guanyin Temple on the South Bank was demolished in 2003 during the expansion of Xuefu Avenue, and the couplet inscribed on its pillars by Elder Wei was also destroyed.

The Maitreya Hall of Guanyin Temple on the South Bank also serves as the mountain gate hall. At its center is a gilded clay Maitreya Buddha, standing 300 cm tall, seated in a relaxed posture on a lotus pedestal with a painted halo. On either side are four Heavenly Kings, also in gilded clay, each holding weapons and trampling on little demons. Inside the gate, the two Door Gods—Heng and Ha—are enshrined on the left and right, both depicted in colorful clay holding weapons. The Seven Buddhas Hall houses seven gilded clay Buddhas, each 300 cm tall, standing on lotus pedestals with painted halos. To the south of the Seven Buddhas Hall is the Gilded Guanyin of Vision, holding the Dharma Eye. To the north is the Gilded Medicine Buddha. To the northwest is the Gilded God of Wealth (both literary and martial versions).

The Kṣitigarbha Hall enshrines the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, the Eastern Emperor of Mount Tai, the Southern Emperor of Mount Heng, the Ten Kings of Hell, and many minor demons. To the north of the Kṣitigarbha Hall is the Amitabha Hall, which houses a gilded stone Amitabha Buddha, 100 cm tall. To the northwest is the Jade Guanyin Hall, enshrining a jade Guanyin adorned with gold and colored glaze, 180 cm tall, standing on a lotus pedestal. In August 1993, this statue was brought back to the temple by Venerable Changmin from Myanmar and donated by lay devotee Chen Zhengwei.

The second floor of the main building is the Mahavira Hall, covering a construction area of 225 square meters. The central figure is Sakyamuni Buddha, facing north, seated in the double-lotus position, in gilded clay, 300 cm tall, with a painted halo. On either side are the Venerables Ānanda and Mahākāśyapa, also in gilded clay, 180 cm tall. Behind Sakyamuni Buddha are enshrined the Three Saints of the West, each 500 cm tall. To the south is the Bodhisattva Manjushri, and to the north is the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, both in gilded clay, 300 cm tall. The west side of the Mahavira Hall is the Skanda Hall, where the central figure is the gilded clay Skanda Bodhisattva, 300 cm tall, facing east and holding a demon-subduing pestle. On either side are eight Great Heavenly Kings, each 180 cm tall, holding weapons and adorned with painted cloud halos. The north side features a wall commemorating temple-building merits, including a stele inscription by Elder Weixian (see Attachment 1). The merit wall consists of 31 pieces of white marble, with a bluestone base, carved dragon-and-pearl patterns, a bluestone top, a hip-and-gable roof, and a tiled appearance.

The third floor of the main building is the Ten-faced Thousand-armed Guanyin Hall. At its center is a wooden, gilded Four-faced Thousand-armed Guanyin, 470 cm tall, seated on a lotus Sumeru pedestal 100 cm high, holding various ritual implements. In 1996, this statue was respectfully brought back to the temple by Venerable Changmin from Ta’er Monastery in Qinghai Province. To the northwest and southwest are the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, respectively.

The Comprehensive Building’s Guanyin Hall enshrines at its center, facing north, a gilded stone Guanyin, a gilded copper Guanyin, a gilded copper Medicine Guanyin, a gilded jade reclining Buddha, and a gilded copper Maitreya.

The Dining Hall of Guanyin Temple on the South Bank can accommodate 300 people dining simultaneously. Its vegetarian cuisine is renowned far and wide.

Annually, Guanyin Temple on the South Bank holds a Lianghuang Repentance Ceremony on the 2nd day of the 3rd lunar month; Guanyin’s Birthday Ceremonies on the 19th days of the 2nd, 6th, and 9th lunar months; a New Year’s Eve Incense Burning event; and traditional temple fairs on the 1st and 15th days of each lunar month. During these events, the temple teems with people, drawing tens of thousands of worshippers.

The temple currently houses six key cultural relics: a wooden Four-faced Thousand-armed Guanyin, a jade Guanyin, a jade reclining Buddha, a wooden Medicine Buddha, a stone God of Wealth, and a pair of embroidered Vajra banners. The remaining statues, over 300 in total, are all made of clay, coated with raw lacquer, shaped, and then gilded. There are also seven wooden plaques and 17 pairs of couplets, all exquisitely crafted. Together, they form a well-rounded site that integrates religious culture and art with normal religious activities, fully equipped and fully functional.