Zengcheng Zhengguo Temple

Zengcheng Zhengguo Temple

Zhengguo Temple in Zengcheng is a cultural relic protection unit of Zengcheng District.

Also known as Foye Temple, Zhengguo Temple is located 13 kilometers northeast of Licheng Town, on the right side of Rui Mountain at the northern edge of Zhengguo Town, adjacent to Zhengguo No. 1 Middle School. The temple was built to enshrine the Living Buddha Bin Gong (also known as Cowboy Buddha). Bin Dao was a native of Jinniu Du (now Fanfeng Village in Zhengguo), endowed with extraordinary qualities from birth, who attained early enlightenment in Zen Buddhism and became a monk at a young age, shaving his head at Mingshan Temple. In the first year of Huangyou during the Southern Song Dynasty (1049), he entered nirvana while seated inside a rattan basket on Shitou Rock in Rui Mountain, achieving true physical nirvana. His disciples then built the temple using his preserved body as the object of worship. Legend has it that “when incense was burned and prayers were offered, smoke emerged from where Zhengguo Temple now stands. Upon investigation, it was found that the smoke entered through the dragon’s mouth and exited through its tail, an auspicious sign indicating the descent of the divine dragon to a Buddha’s land. Thus, in the third year of the Qingyuan era of the Song Dynasty, the temple was relocated to the right side of Rui Mountain and named ‘Zhengguo Temple.’ The Chengfo Rock’s Zhengyin Temple represents the dragon’s head, while today’s Zhengguo Temple is the dragon’s tail—this is seen as a sign of cause and effect.” Bin Gong, the Living Buddha, dedicated his life to saving people, shielding them from disasters, and cultivating virtue, eventually attaining enlightenment. It can be said that the man came first, then the Buddha, and the temple was built after the Living Buddha.

The temple is situated upstream of the Zeng River, below Longmen, tucked away among secluded mountains where vehicles rarely pass. It draws water from Longmen as sacred water and plants forests from Rui Mountain to form a serene precinct. Blessed with outstanding people and a spiritual land, a settlement was established here and named Zhengguo. With a long history, Zhengguo Temple has been worshipped through several dynasties since the time of Bin Gong, including the Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and even the Republican era, continuing to this day for over 900 years.

The temple architecture was initially built in the third year of the Qingyuan era of the Song Dynasty (1197), covering a construction area of 750 square zhang (approximately square meters). It is an ancient temple with soaring upturned eaves, classic charm, and majestic beauty. The structure is rigorously organized, uniformly laid out, and clearly stratified in a combination of post-and-lintel and hip-and-gable roof styles. Notably, the swallow brackets, lotus seed brackets, and dragon-phoenix brackets blend seamlessly, arranged in a dynamic yet balanced composition that conforms to the terrain, with supports and brackets interlocking ingeniously. Stone carvings, wood carvings, and relief sculptures are exquisitely crafted, delicate and translucent. The Four Heavenly Kings (also known as the Four Diamond Kings) stand majestically on either side of the mountain gate, symbolizing favorable weather and prosperity. The central hall features the Tathagata Buddha flanked by the Eighteen Arhats, each with unique expressions, creating a vibrant and fascinating atmosphere. The rear hall houses the solemn and awe-inspiring Living Buddha Bin Gong (Cowboy Buddha). It is one of the few renowned temples within a 500-li radius of the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong Province, celebrated far and wide. Since the Song Dynasty, the temple has enjoyed enduring incense offerings and a continuous stream of visitors.

Bin Gong devoted his life to saving sentient beings, shielding them from disasters, and supporting the vulnerable. In the fourth year of the Qingfeng era, bandits threatened the city. Local gentry and militia, rallying under the banner of Bin Gong, frightened the bandits into retreat, reclaiming the county town and punishing the culprits. When the emperor learned of this, in the sixth year of the Guangxu era, he issued an imperial decree to confer an honorary title and construct the Zhāoxiǎn Stone Memorial Archway. Verified for its merit and benefit to the people, it was built to commend and commemorate Bin Gong for posterity. In the third year of the Guangxu era, a devastating flood endangered the dikes. The villagers prayed for Bin Gong’s protection, and the Living Buddha displayed miraculous powers, manifesting as a villager leading the crowd under his banner to fight the flood. The waters receded instantly, and safety was restored. Bin Gong’s repeated divine acts deeply moved the villagers, who were immensely grateful. Thus, the temple enshrined three statues of the Traveling Buddha. During fasting rituals, temple fairs, or outbreaks of epidemics, these statues were brought back to the village to suppress demons, ward off evil, and eliminate disasters and plagues. The boundless power of the Dharma meant that those who prayed sincerely always experienced miraculous responses, leaving clear signs of blessings.

Zhengguo Temple suffered severe damage during the Cultural Revolution and has since lacked formal monastic management. The temple structures fell into disrepair over the years, becoming unrecognizable. In 1978, the public initiated efforts to restore Zhengguo Temple, but due to financial constraints and other challenges, only minor repairs were made, leaving dilapidated walls and ruins still standing. To implement the Party’s religious policies, protect religious rights, and resume normal religious activities at Zhengguo Temple, the attention and care of leaders from the Guangzhou and Zengcheng People’s Congresses, governments, and relevant departments, as well as support from the Zhengguo Town Government, were crucial. After consultations, it was mutually agreed that Zhengguo Temple should be managed by the Guangzhou Buddhist Association to comply with provincial and municipal religious regulations and fulfill the wishes of devotees. Approved and registered by the Guangzhou Religious Affairs Bureau, the temple officially reopened to the public on October 9, 2001. With the return of the temple buildings, numerous tasks awaited, and funding was scarce. Thanks to the strong support of the Guangzhou Buddhist Association and generous donations from devotees, restoration efforts over one year repaired the main hall, Heavenly King Hall, and newly constructed guest hall, dining hall, monks’ quarters, and Merit Hall, along with recasting statues of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The restored Zhengguo Temple now boasts a pleasant environment, classic charm, and tranquil elegance, providing a sacred space for worshippers and tourists to practice Buddhism and sightsee.

Zhengguo Temple was designated as a cultural relic protection unit in 1984 and recognized as one of the new Eight Scenic Spots and a tourist destination in 1991. Since reopening, the number of overseas, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan devotees, and visitors from all walks of life has steadily increased. As the saying goes: “Bin Gong attained enlightenment over 900 years ago; though the ancient temple endured repeated devastation, it has now been restored. The Living Buddha shines anew, and the sacred temple regains its grandeur, soon to reveal a renewed splendor.”

The Living Buddha Bin Gong’s miracles are evident, his merits benefit the people, and his legacy endures forever, indelible and witnessed by historical records. Historical figures and scholars have praised him in poetry, such as the poem by Zheng Jue, a local scholar of the Ming Dynasty, about Zhengguo Temple: “In the rattan basket on Shitou Rock, his form was revealed; emptiness and form all return to truth. A compassionate heart turned a mortal into a Buddha; sacred bones remain for a thousand years, the Buddha still a man. This blessed land is now rightly called Zhengguo; eternal worship blesses everlasting spring. Most fortunate are those who pray for rain, cleansing the dust of worldly suffering.”

Address: No. 18 Zhengchao Street, Zhengguo Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou City

Type: Historic Temple

Recommended Visiting Time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 020-82811249

Opening Hours: 6:00–18:00

Ticket Information: Free admission.