Dongguan Haichao Nunnery

Dongguan Haichao Nunnery

Dongguan Haichao Nunnery is located in Sici Village, Aozhitang, Dongcheng District, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province. It faces the eastern branch of the Dong River and looks across the water at Shijie Town, with a causeway road stretching out like a ribbon in front of it, connecting to the Shijie Bridge over a kilometer away. It lies 78 kilometers south of Shenzhen and 62 kilometers north of Guangzhou. The Shilong Station of the Guangzhou–Shenzhen Railway is nearby, about a ten-minute drive away, offering convenient transportation.

Haichao Nunnery was first built during the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty (1627 AD), boasting a history of over 380 years. It was initiated and funded by Xu Zhaokui, a local villager. Xu Zhaokui served as Minister of Justice during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, later retired to his hometown, and became known for his philanthropy and respected virtue. According to local villagers, Dongguan has long been an alluvial plain with crisscrossing rivers. The nunnery was named “Haichao” (Sea Tide) because it faces the surging river.

According to the plaque at Haichao Nunnery, it has undergone multiple cycles of prosperity and decline. Throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties, the nunnery was renovated many times. During the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty (1782–1850), the abbot Youxian monk oversaw its reconstruction.

In the early years after the liberation, Haichao Nunnery once again fell into disuse, and overnight, worshippers vanished. Several nuns who remained persevered and secretly earned a living through handicrafts. After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the government implemented policies on religious freedom. In 1981, under the leadership of the then nun Shi Xiu, Haichao Nunnery held a rededication ceremony. From then on, the long-silent nunnery regained its former vibrancy.

During the Cultural Revolution, Haichao Nunnery saw few visitors, and worshippers disappeared overnight. The few nuns who stayed could only secretly do handicraft work to survive. After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee, the government reinstated religious policies. In 1981, under the guidance of the then nun Shi Xiu, Haichao Nunnery held a rededication ceremony. Since then, the nunnery, which had been quiet for many years, regained its former liveliness.

In 1994, with strong support from devotees, the presiding nun Shi Xiu oversaw the renovation of the nunnery, reconfiguring its internal layout and restoring the ancient structure. The nunnery originally enshrined the Three Jewels Buddha, but after the renovation, it was changed to enshrine the Saha Trinity (Sakyamuni Buddha, the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha of the Great Vow, and the Bodhisattva Guanyin, who often save sentient beings in this Saha world. They share deep karmic ties with the beings here and are thus called the “Saha Trinity”). The original building of Haichao Nunnery covered an area of 223 square meters, including the Mahavira Hall spanning about 30 square meters, the Patriarch Hall about 10 square meters, and the Merit Hall around 20 square meters. In 1998, it was officially registered and approved by the Dongguan Municipal Government’s Religious Affairs Department as a legitimate venue for religious activities.

Aozhitang Community: Overview of Aozhitang Community

The community consists of only one natural village, covering an area of approximately 2.14 square kilometers, with 265 households, a registered population of 1,056, and about 4,000 migrant residents.

In 2017, the community built a total of concrete roads approximately 7 kilometers long, ranging from 6 to 21 meters wide, and asphalt roads 1.2 kilometers long, 18 meters wide. There are four parks covering a combined area of 8,660 square meters. The industrial zone includes one farmers' market spanning 800 square meters, one shopping mall, two basketball courts, and two leisure squares... More detailed information about Aozhitang Community++