Suining Guangde Temple

Suining Guangde Temple

Suining Guangde Temple is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

Guangde Temple is situated at the foot of Wolong Mountain, 1.5 kilometers west of Suining city. It is a key Buddhist destination in central Sichuan and has been a renowned ancient temple since the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, recognized as the “First Zen Forest from the West.” The entire temple complex occupies 47,666.67 square meters, with historical architecture covering 8,350 square meters. The temple is built against the mountain, oriented 300 degrees from northwest to southeast. Its main structures are aligned along a central axis, extending from the foot to the top in nine tiers: Yuance Bridge, Hengha Hall, Imperial Edict Archway and Stele Pavilion, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Vairocana Hall, Dharma Hall, Three Officials Hall, and Buddha Top Pavilion. To the east of the central axis lie the Thousand Buddha Hall, Lamp-Lighting Hall, and Thousand-Armed Guanyin Hall, while to the west are the Guanyin Hall, Scripture Repository Hall, Shanjie Pagoda, and Jade Buddha Hall. With over twenty halls and buildings of varying sizes, featuring a clear hierarchy and symmetrical layout, the temple complex showcases architectural styles reminiscent of the Tang and Song dynasties.

Originally named Shifo Temple, Guangde Temple was founded when Du Jili, the military governor of Dongchuan during the Tang Dynasty, invited Master Keyou (also known as Wuzhu) to reside and establish teachings in Suining in the second year of the Dali era (767) under Emperor Daizong. During the Dali era, it was known as Baotang Temple. In June of the thirteenth year of the Dali era (778), an imperial decree ordered large-scale reconstruction of the temple, which was then bestowed the name "Chanlin Temple" (Zen Forest Temple). Master Keyou was granted the title of "Keyou Chan Master" and bestowed purple robes, while the eminent calligrapher Yan Zhenqing was commissioned to inscribe the temple plaque. In the early Jianzhong years of Emperor Dezong, it was renamed "Shanji Yuan." In the third year of the Zhenyuan era (787), Master Keyou passed away in meditation, after which his disciple Yuanshan built a stupa to enshrine him. In the fifth year of the Huichang era (845), Emperor Wuzong issued an edict to suppress Buddhism nationwide, reducing the "Chanlin Temple" to ruins. In the first year of the Dazhong era (847) under Emperor Xuanzong, the temple was rebuilt through the fundraising efforts of Fahuan, Keyou’s later disciple. Magistrate Wang Jian reconstructed the "Relic Pagoda" (commonly known as the flesh-body pagoda). In April of the third year of the Tianfu era (903) under Emperor Zhaozong, another imperial decree renamed the temple "Revived Chanlin Temple."

The temple structure remained largely the same during the Five Dynasties period.

In the first month of the fourth year of the Dazhong Xiangfu era (1011) during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, the temple was granted the name "Guangli Chan Temple," along with a sacred seal called the "Imperial-Gifted Guangli Chan Temple Guanyin Jewel Seal" (still preserved in the temple today). During the Yuanyou era of Emperor Zhezong, reconstruction work began on the Relic Pagoda, accompanied by a pagoda inscription written and inscribed by Zhao Siye, the magistrate of Anyue County. In the second year of the Chongning era (1103) under Emperor Huizong, Master Keyou (Wuzhu) was posthumously honored with the title "Master Ciying" (Compassionate Response Master), and the pagoda was named "Shanjie." The pagoda was completed on the eighth day of the first lunar month of that year (now known as the Shanjie Pagoda), and Xie Jin, the transport judge of Suzhou Prefecture, composed the "Suzhou Guangli Chan Temple Shanjie Pagoda Inscription." On the tenth month of the ninth year of the Qiandao era (1173) during the reign of Emperor Xiaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty, the emperor conferred upon Master Keyou the title "Master Yuanjue Huiying Cigan" (Perfect Enlightenment, Compassionate Response, and Inspirational Master). In the first year of the Chunxi era (1174), Emperor Xiaozong issued an edict for Zheng Wen, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and Sichuan Pacification Commissioner, to erect an Imperial Edict Archway within the temple. A stone inscription carved vertically into the mountainside (now known as the Song Dynasty Nine Dragons Stele) was installed, recording all seven imperial recognitions from the Tang and Song dynasties.

Continuous warfare during the Yuan Dynasty caused partial damage to the halls and pavilions.

Reconstruction began in the first year of the Hongwu era (1368) under Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, and after over sixty years up to the Xuande era, the temple gradually regained its former scale. Further expansions took place between the Zhengtong era of Emperor Yingzong and the Chenghua era of Emperor Xianzong. During the Chenghua era, the Vajra Hall (now known as the Hengha Hall) was constructed north of Yuance Bridge, featuring an imposing eight-character mountain gate. An wing-like "Imperial Edict Archway" (now the existing one) was also built between the Vajra Hall and the Heavenly King Pavilion, along with two side pavilions to protect stone steles. By this time, Guangde Temple had taken on its current layout. In the eighth year of the Zhengde era (1513), it was officially named "Guangde Temple." The Ming Dynasty Guangde Temple housed over a thousand monks, boasted grand architecture, and was unrivaled in western Sichuan, overseeing over 300 temples across three provinces — Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou. However, the temple suffered severe damage during the chaotic wars at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and its monastic community disappeared.

During the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, monks from other provinces settled in Suining and undertook renovations and expansions. Different sects of Buddhism — the Linji School, Caodong School, and Linji offshoots — occupied separate sections of the halls, jointly managing the temple, a situation referred to as the Three Schools Governing Guangde Temple. Each school maintained its own land holdings, built its own halls, and passed down its teachings from master to disciple. The Eastern Dharma Hall built a scripture depository above the Hundred Sons Hall, the Upper Dharma Hall constructed the Buddha Top Pavilion atop the Three Officials Hall, and the Western Dharma Hall established the Jade Buddha Hall in front of the Great Compassion Pavilion.

During the Republican era, the three schools continued to coexist, but parts of the temple were often used as barracks for stationed troops.

After the land reform in 1951, the temple was confiscated. Subsequently, it was occupied by district government offices, schools, hospitals, and other institutions. In 1983, the county cultural relics management office was established, and the temple came under the administration of the cultural relics department. In November 1985, the Suining Municipal Party Committee and municipal government implemented religious policies, and the temple was officially reopened with the issuance of the Suifu Notice (1985) No. 02. In May 1988, the city cultural relics office moved out, and the temple has since been managed by the Guangde Temple Management Committee.

Protected area: Bounded by the memorial archway in the temple-front square to the east, the wall on the southern side of the Precept Hall and Jade Buddha Hall to the south, the western wall of the Buddha Top Pavilion to the west, and the northern wall of the No. II wing room to the north, covering an area of 3.3 hectares.

Construction control zone: Divided into Class I and Class II construction control zones. Class I Construction Control Zone: Bounded by the mountain ridge line of the Modou Slope to the east, the southern bank of the Guangji Weir to the south, the 330-meter contour line of the Wolong Mountain terrain to the west, and the 330-meter elevation line around Wolong Lake to the north, covering 65.8 hectares. Class II Construction Control Zone: Bounded by the road to the east of the temple-front square to the east, an area 45 meters beyond the southern wall of the Precept Hall and Jade Buddha Hall to the south, the western wall of the Buddha Top Pavilion to the west, and the Wolong Lake dam to the north, covering 12.6 hectares.

Further reading:

· Sixth Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level