Donghua Temple

Donghua Temple

Donghua Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Donghua Temple is located within the Donghua Mountain Scenic Area, three kilometers northeast of the county outskirts in Wengyuan County. It was founded in the first year of the Tianjian era (502 AD) during the Liang Dynasty by the Indian monk Master Jnana-Mitra. Due to the resemblance of Donghua Mountain’s terrain to India’s Vulture Peak, it was originally named Lingjiu Temple. In the first year of the Longshuo era in the Tang Dynasty, the Sixth Patriarch Huineng, after receiving the Dharma robe and bowl in Huangmei, practiced here in seclusion, rebuilt Lingjiu Temple, renamed it Donghua Temple, and later went on to Baolin Temple (Nanhua Temple). Since then, the saying has been passed down: “Donghua came before Nanhua; enlightenment was attained at Donghua, while teachings were spread at Nanhua.” The temple flourished during the Tang and Song dynasties but was destroyed during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The Donghua scenic area boasts picturesque landscapes dotted with uniquely shaped peaks and rocks, including Five-Finger Mountain, Desk Mountain, Lingjiu Mountain, Reclining Buddha Mountain, Lion Mountain, Camel Mountain, Elephant Trunk Mountain, Jade Rabbit Peak, and Heavenly King Rock. Some formations are majestic and towering, while others are strikingly lifelike—leaving visitors in awe and making the area a uniquely featured religious tourist destination in Guangdong Province.

In 1997, Master Wanxing, who had spent four years in retreat in Zhangzhou, Fujian and Nyingchi, Tibet, returned to the “Three Saints Cave” on this mountain for another period of secluded practice. Three years later, he attained realization of the true source of Buddhahood and emerged from retreat. In 2002, he began preparations to rebuild this thousand-year-old sacred temple. Construction started in September 2006, and Donghua Temple was officially completed in October 2008. Covering an area of over 300 acres with a built-up area of more than 20,000 square meters and investment exceeding 100 million yuan, the temple features an ancient yet elegant architectural style that is uniquely distinctive.

Master Wanxing carried forward the meditation tradition of his predecessors, upholding the principle of “combining farming with meditation—meditating in the hall and practicing mindfulness in daily chores, ‘no work, no food.’” He established the Donghua tradition: “Have faith in Buddhism, but first be patriotic; study Buddhism, but first learn to be a good person; cultivate the Way, but first generate the Bodhi mind.” Guided by the philosophy of “seeking the Buddhist path above and transforming sentient beings below; being a moral model and embodying the virtues of a sage,” he managed the temple with strict discipline. The monastic community adheres closely to the precepts and regulations of the monastic code, and their pure and authentic practice has earned widespread praise, making Donghua Temple one of the most distinctive centers for spiritual practice in China. It attracts numerous monks and lay practitioners seeking learning and guidance.

Currently, under the leadership of Master Wanxing, Donghua Temple has become one of the largest Buddhist cultural centers in the Shaoguan region, a model religious site in the city, a harmonious temple in the province, and a promoter of public welfare and charity in Wengyuan County. Each year, it donates millions of yuan for disaster relief, student aid, poverty alleviation, and other virtuous causes, greatly contributing to the healthy economic and cultural development of Wengyuan County.