Meixian Chanlin Temple

Meixian Chanlin Temple

Meixian Chanlin Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Chanlin Temple was originally located in Songlin Village, about two kilometers from the Shejiang Market Town of Meixian. Built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, it was a renowned ancient temple in eastern Guangdong. In the early years of the Republic of China, the eminent monk Master Shankai served as abbot. He and the abbot of Kaiyuan Temple in Chaozhou were brothers in Dharma, and the two temples maintained close ties. The temple housed dozens of resident monks, hosted ordination platforms, and conducted ordination ceremonies, which contributed to its flourishing incense offerings. In 1919, the Meixian Buddhist Association was established, and Master Shankai, the abbot of Chanlin Temple, became its first president. He also set up a Buddhist academy at the temple and served as its dean, training many eminent monks known far and wide. However, after the position passed to Master Yingzhang, who also served as abbot and dean, the academy was soon discontinued. Due to historical reasons, this Buddhist monastery was repurposed for use as a school.

To implement the religious policies of the Party and the state and in response to requests from people of all walks of life, in 1999, with government approval, it was decided to relocate Chanlin Temple to the eastern hill of Shejiang Park. The new site is surrounded by hills, faces north and south, with balanced surroundings on both sides resembling a grand Buddha’s throne. A stream flows around the front of the hill, like a jade belt encircling the waist, while the long river lies ahead, with the waters of the Changle River flowing in tribute. In the distance, the Lotus Mountain appears with overlapping mountain mists resembling layers of lotus petals before one’s eyes, making it a natural sacred land for Zen Buddhism.

On January 11, 2000 (the 5th day of the 12th lunar month in 1999), in the afternoon, Venerable Master Fo Yuan, Vice President of the Guangdong Buddhist Association and a renowned eminent monk, led a group of monastics including Master Shi 0, Abbess of Qianfo Pagoda Temple, and Master Yanhan from Hong Kong’s Baolin Temple, to visit the new site of Chanlin Temple. On-site, the eminent monk inscribed the temple plaque. As he wrote the powerful character “Chan” (Zen), starting from the lower right, the previously overcast sky suddenly lit up with an auspicious Buddhist light phenomenon, with golden, radiant sunshine beaming from the west. After the master completed the plaque inscription and the phrase “Zen Mind Like Moon, Forests Reach the Sky,” the sky returned to its normal state.

The relocated Chanlin Temple site covers an area of about 100 acres and was designed and planned according to Buddhist traditions combined with contemporary features. The main layout, from the mountaintop down to the mountain gate, consists of: the Five Dhyani Buddhas Pagoda — Thousand-Armed Guanyin Hall — Dharma Hall — Heavenly King Hall — Mountain Gate. At the mountaintop is the Five Dhyani Buddhas Pagoda, with a base area of 1,089 square meters and a main tower height of 19 meters, along with four auxiliary towers each 6 meters tall. The Thousand-Armed Guanyin Hall is 14 meters high, 40 meters long, and 22 meters wide; the two side halls are each 10 meters high, 23 meters long, and 17 meters wide. The Dharma Hall is 12 meters high, 40 meters long, and 22 meters wide; the Heavenly King Hall is 10 meters high, 12 meters long, and 10 meters wide; with bell and drum towers on both sides. The Mountain Gate is 10.4 meters high, 22.4 meters long, and 10 meters wide. Between the Mountain Gate and the Dharma Hall is a liberation pond, with the Nine-Dragon Bridge built over the pond surface. Between the Guanyin Hall and the Pagoda, there are ninety-nine steps. Alongside the Guanyin Hall and Mountain Gate, two-story buildings were constructed for different purposes, connected by corridors. Once completed, the entire temple complex is solemn and magnificent, embodying Buddhist elegance as well as Hakka cultural characteristics. Among them, the Thousand-Armed Guanyin statue is the largest in eastern Guangdong. Together with the park and the Martyrs' Memorial Cemetery, though each with its own style and layout, they naturally form a cohesive and unified overall tourist attraction.

Shejiang Town: Shejiang Town is located in the southwest of Meixian, at the junction of four counties—Meixian, Xingning, Fengshun, and Wuhua—and borders 13 other towns. It is one of the province-designated central towns. The town has a population of 45,000 and covers an area of 175 square kilometers, with jurisdiction over 23 village committees and 2 neighborhood committees. It enjoys a superior geographical location, with National Highway 206 running through the town, the Guangzhou-Meizhou-Shantou Railway establishing a freight station here, and the Shantou-Meizhou and Meizhou-He River Expressways intersecting in Shejiang. In recent years, the town’s Party committee and government have seized development opportunities such as market town development, railway and expressway construction, leading with the craft weaving industry while maintaining industrial… Shejiang Town detailed information++