Qingyun Mountain Dingguang Temple

Qingyun Mountain Dingguang Temple

Qingyun Mountain Dingguang Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Dingguang Temple is located at the foot of the picturesque Qingyun Mountain in Lufeng City, Shanwei, Guangdong Province. Originally built in the fourth year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty (1631), it has a history of over 300 years. It was initially named Qingyun Temple (also known as Luotang An), and was renovated in the autumn of the tenth year of the Daoguang era (1830) by the eminent monk Kuanjian. In the mid-Daoguang period (1853), Master Renzhi, a disciple of the Huangbo sect from Dieshiyan on Nan'ao Island, repeatedly instructed his disciples to ensure the temple's glory during his scholarly travels. The temple was destroyed in 1928. In 1941, Monk Honghui, after many hardships, returned to reside in the temple, cultivating the land and reclaiming the mountain forests, forming an inseparable bond with Qingyun Mountain through its ups and downs. In 1944, Honghui and his disciples cleared the thorny path, carried mud, and painstakingly built a five-room hut, living off the land. The temple was destroyed again in 1967. It was rebuilt in 1979, and its traditions gradually revived, regaining solemnity day by day.

The temple complex is built along the slope of the mountain, ascending layer by layer with a majestic and magnificent presence. Corridors and stairways are interconnected, creating an engaging experience. The Buddha, Bodhisattva, and Arhat statues enshrined inside the halls are all carved from large bluestone, featuring an ancient and dignified style, with vivid and unique expressions rarely seen in other temples across China. Outside the halls, on either side of the round gates, clear springs flow down from the mountaintop, refreshing to the soul. Especially in the ambiance of deep Buddhist chants, the melodies of flowing springs, and the accompaniment of the breeze, one can appreciate this ancient architectural complex that embodies the simplicity and boldness of the north, the serenity and elegance of the south, and the unadorned purity of Zen temples—truly refreshing, liberating one from worldly worries and leaving visitors lingering with delight. It is reputed as the “Outstanding Gem of Lingnan.”

The entire architectural complex includes, from bottom to top, the Mountain Gate Stone, Memorial Archway, Cloud Pavilion, Stone Arch Bridge, Front Hall, Mahavira Hall, Zen Monastery, Guanyin Pavilion, Dharma Lecture Hall, Scripture Depository, Patriarch Hall, and Blessing Hall.

The main structure, the Mahavira Hall, is grand and imposing, covering an area of 700 m², standing 14 m tall with an interior width of 237 m. It follows the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, constructed with a stone and wood structure. The three Bodhisattva statues and the 18 Arhat statues inside the hall are all carved from high-quality granite sourced locally on the mountain. Each Bodhisattva statue stands 6–7 m tall and weighs 15 tonnes, with solemn expressions and dignified, compassionate appearances. The golden plaque inscribed with the characters “Mahavira Hall” was written by Zhao Puchu, former president of the Buddhist Association of China. The temple also preserves historical religious artifacts from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including stone tablets, stone carvings, wood carvings, and stone sculptures.