Wuxianyan Foguang Temple

Wuxianyan Foguang Temple

Wuxianyan Foguang Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Foguang Temple is located in Tielutan Village, Fuda Town, about six kilometers from Meizhou City and adjacent to the new urban area of Meixian District. Boasting a prime location, the temple is accessible via paved cement roads, allowing vehicles smaller than minibuses to reach right up to the front. It enjoys convenient transportation, picturesque scenery, and a majestic terrain, offering sweeping views of the beautiful landscape of Meizhou City.

Foguang Temple was originally named Wuxianyan and was first built during the Ming Dynasty. It has a history of over 400 years and is located in Wuxian Village, Fuda, Meixian, Meizhou, Guangdong Province. The site has undergone multiple expansions and reconstructions.

As for the origin of the name “Wuxian” (Black Immortal), according to the former Chengxiang County Annals, there was once a stone tablet inscription, but the original tablet has been lost. In our quest to trace the origins, after months of research and interviews with village elders, we found that the stories are rooted in myths and legends. It is said that during a severe drought in a certain year of the Ming Dynasty, crops withered and villagers knelt in prayer, pleading with heaven for rain. Their sincere devotion moved the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Soon after, three black-robed immortals were seen arriving on cranes, flying to a high mountain cliff where they summoned clouds and brought rain, instantly ending the drought. Because the three immortals were dressed in black—“black” being “wu” in Chinese—they were called the “Three Black Immortals,” and the cliff became known as “Wuxianyan” (Black Immortal Cliff). In gratitude for the immortals’ blessings, locals pooled funds to build a temple to enshrine the Three Patriarchs. Within the cliff shrine were also several statues of Guanyin Bodhisattva. For centuries, the site enjoyed flourishing incense offerings, with prayers answered. It is also said that a renowned Feng Shui master from Jiangxi once followed the dragon vein in search of auspicious land and arrived at Wuxianyan. After carefully surveying the area, he couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, “This is truly a treasure land!!...” Later, the abbot built an altar at the spot where the master had stayed, naming it the “Jiangxi Boge.”

Foguang Temple fell into disrepair in 1959 due to unfavorable circumstances, leading to the departure of monks and the collapse of its structures. However, with the arrival of the spring breeze brought by the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, the policy of religious freedom was reinstated. With the compassionate radiance of the Buddha and the support of local benefactors as well as devotees from both home and abroad, reconstruction began in 1988. Due to various limitations, only partial construction was carried out at that time, without comprehensive planning or alignment with the standards of a formal Buddhist sanctuary. In the spring of 1995, after Venerable Master Zhengrong took on the role of abbot, with the support of higher authorities and enthusiastic individuals from all walks of life, the temple was officially named “Foguang Temple.” The compassionate abbot adhered strictly to monastic discipline, led by example, and remained committed to the teachings. With great ambition, the abbot undertook comprehensive planning for the establishment of a proper Buddhist sanctuary. The Guangdong Chaozhou Architectural Design Institute was commissioned to develop a meticulous master plan based on the concept of traditional ancient Buddhist temples. The first phase of the main expansion project includes over thirty structures, covering more than forty acres of land, with a building area of approximately 10,000 square meters and a water feature area of about 8,000 square meters. Based on current construction costs, the project requires approximately 50 million RMB. If conditions permit, a second phase of planning will follow (including road expansion, parking lots, land acquisition, etc.). The complete overall plan will require about 100 acres of land in total, with estimated costs reaching around 60 million RMB.

Tielutan Village: Tielutan Village…… Detailed information on Tielutan Village++