Nanshiong DaXiong Chan Temple

Nanshiong DaXiong Chan Temple

Nanshiong DaXiong Chan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Nanshiong DaXiong Chan Temple, located by Shashui Lake in Zhuxi Ancient Lane, Nanshiong City, was originally named Shashui Temple. In 1994, to develop the ancestral hall tourism project of Zhuxi Ancient Lane, the Nanshiong County Government, with the support of enthusiastic individuals from home and abroad, allocated over 40,000 square meters of land and initially built the mountain gate and the Mahavira Hall. Due to a lack of temple construction experience and other reasons, the project was suspended in 1997. In 1998, the Nanshiong CPPCC and the United Front Work Department invited Venerable Benhuan to inspect the temple. Later, in early 1999, it was decided to allocate the land to him free of charge for continued construction. On April 1, 2001, as a starting point, Mr. and Mrs. Li Damin and Li Xiaojinxian donated 1.5 million RMB for the construction of the Heavenly King Hall, which enabled the reconstruction of the temple to proceed smoothly. At the same time, the venerable renamed the temple DaXiong Chan Temple and invited Ye Xuanping, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, to inscribe the temple name.

To propagate the Buddha’s teachings and continue the wisdom of Buddhism, despite his advanced age, Venerable Benhuan, driven by compassion and great vows, spared no effort in traveling extensively and soliciting generous support from donors. Gradually, sufficient funds were raised. The venerable placed great importance on the temple’s construction, personally overseeing everything from planning to architectural design, proposing crucial construction plans, and acquiring additional land. This expanded the temple’s total area to 104,800 square meters. The central axis now includes a memorial archway, a liberation pond, a screen wall, the mountain gate, the Heavenly King Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the Dharma Hall, as well as the Guanyin Hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall, the Sangharama Hall, and the Patriarchs Hall. On both sides, there are also the meditation hall, dining hall, abbot’s quarters, merit hall, monastic dormitories, and retreat rooms. The total construction area reaches 100,000 square meters, making it another major Chan Buddhist monastery in northern Guangdong.

The layout of the temple follows ancient styles, meeting the needs of resident monks for study and practice, facilitating pilgrims’ worship, and aiding overall temple management. For the construction of halls and pavilions, the project was undertaken by Linhai Ancient Architecture Company from Zhejiang, adopting a Song Dynasty architectural style combined with modern building materials. Brick, wood, and reinforced concrete structures were integrated, featuring traditional bracket sets and flying rafters that are classic and elegant, yet also sturdy, termite-resistant, fireproof, and cost-effective. For the creation of Buddha statues and stone works, the project was supervised by lay devotee Chang Hao. All bronze statues were manufactured by Nanjing ChenGuang Aerospace Company, with strict attention to quality—majestic in form and exquisitely crafted. All Buddha pedestals, plaza floors, terrace surfaces, and railings are paved with famous Fujian Huian granite, featuring beautiful designs, fine carvings, hard texture, uniform color, and a strong sense of unity.

To unify the overall architectural style of the temple and enhance the quality of the original structures, the venerable raised funds to completely renovate the original mountain gate and Mahavira Hall. From the glazed tiles to the walls, doors, windows, beams, columns, and floor tiles, all were replaced with high-end craftsmanship materials, giving the buildings a completely renewed look and creating a lasting legacy of virtue. To compensate for the site’s geographical limitations, the venerable also allocated special funds for landscaping, supplemented by generous donations from virtuous devotees, resulting in the planting of numerous ancient and rare trees along with various flowers and plants, bringing vibrant life and spring-like vitality to the temple gardens.

Today, a magnificent golden temple, shaded by lush green trees, stands proudly by Shashui Lake in Zhuxi Ancient Lane, Nanshiong City—the birthplace of the Pearl River Delta. It is not only a blessed place where Buddhism benefits the world but also a stunning highlight of Nanshiong’s cultural tourism, attracting attention from people around the world.