Haifeng Jiming Temple

Haifeng Jiming Temple

Haifeng Jiming Temple is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Guangdong Province.

Haifeng Jiming Temple, located in the Lianhua Mountain Forest Management Area in the northern part of Haifeng County, Shanwei City, Guangdong Province, is 13 kilometers from downtown Haifeng. It sits on Jixin Mountain, nestled between Lianhua Mountain and Yinping Mountain. Originally built in the sixth year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty (1633), it was established by the eminent monk Yinzhen through fundraising efforts among local gentry and merchants. The original site was located five li across from the temple at the foot of Lianhua Mountain. It was later relocated to its current site because at dawn, monks often heard roosters crowing on Jixin Mountain, which they regarded as an auspicious omen.

In 1987, Monk Shidaguan from Dingguang Temple in Lufeng, after a long journey, found the original site of Jiming Temple and resolved to rebuild it in the tradition of Yinzhen. The following year, on the 26th day of the fifth lunar month, the Jiming Temple Preparatory Committee was established. By the end of that year, the foundation stone was laid under the supervision of Venerable Dingchi from Kaiyuan Temple in Chaozhou. On the 17th day of the third lunar month in 1989, reconstruction officially commenced, presided over by Venerable Hongqian, head of the Kaiyuan Temple, and Venerable Hongru, abbot of Nanyan Temple. By the end of 1999, Venerable Hongman, then Vice President of the Guangdong Buddhist Association and Chief Monk of Guangxiao Temple, was appointed as the abbot of Jiming Temple. The temple has now taken initial shape, featuring a magnificent and solemn Mahavira Hall that houses the Three Jewels Buddha statues. Additional structures have also been completed, including the outer mountain gate, the Three Great Bodhisattvas Pavilion, meditation rooms, bell and drum towers, and a vegetarian restaurant, covering an area of approximately 50,000 square meters.

The mountain gate plaque “Jiming Temple” was inscribed by Zhao Puchu, a renowned calligrapher and former president of the Buddhist Association of China. The temple also boasts couplets and calligraphy works by masters such as Shiding, Zhufan, and Yu Zhaohua. For these reasons, Jiming Temple has long been a famous scenic destination for visitors.

Throughout its history, Jiming Temple has been home to eminent monks. During the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, the famed poet and calligrapher Jiang Fengchen was on good terms with the temple’s abbot, Venerable Weixin. After tasting the celestial tea “Dragon Head Phoenix Tail” at the temple, he was full of praise and wrote a poem: “Tell the monks to keep good stock, and send me several pounds each year.” As a result, Lianhua Mountain Tea became widely renowned.

Riverside Subdistrict: The Riverside Subdistrict Office is located in the central part of the county, in the southern suburbs of the county seat. It borders Fulin Town to the east, Liantang Town to the west, Wan’an Township to the southwest, and faces Nanpu Town across the Nanpu Stream to the north. It lies between 118°31′–118°35′ east longitude and 27°52′–27°55′ north latitude, stretching 12.5 kilometers from east to west and 5 kilometers from north to south, covering an area of 18.76 square kilometers. The subdistrict is situated close to the Nanpu Stream. The terrain mainly consists of basins and hills, with relatively flat landforms. The river valley basins include Shuinanfan and Xiashuinanfan, totaling 3,438.75 mu. The lowest elevation in the basin is 228 meters, … Riverside Subdistrict detailed information++