Guangzhou Hualin Temple

Guangzhou Hualin Temple

Guangzhou Hualin Temple is a protected cultural heritage site of Guangzhou.

To the north of Xiajiu Road in Liwan District, Guangzhou, there is a place called Xilai Chudi, where one of the four major Buddhist monasteries in Guangzhou — Hualin Temple — is located. It stands as an important historical testament to cultural exchanges between the people of China and India. Legend has it that the Indian monk Bodhidharma traveled across the Indian and Pacific Oceans to preach Buddhism in China. After three years of arduous journey and trekking, he finally arrived in Guangzhou in the seventh year of the Putong era (526 AD) during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties. Later generations revered him as a eminent monk from the Western Buddhist kingdom and named the place where he first landed “Xilai Chudi” (Land of the Western Arrival). More than a thousand years have passed, yet the name originally given to the riverside area near the Pearl River still remains in use today. The temple Bodhidharma built upon arriving in Guangzhou was called Xilai An, which became the sacred site where he first spread Buddhist teachings in China. Later, Bodhidharma was also honored as the founding patriarch of Chinese Zen Buddhism. Who were the second to sixth patriarchs? They were Huike, Sengcan, Daoxin, Hongren, and Huineng. Today, people still hold great reverence for Bodhidharma, the founding patriarch of Zen. In addition to calling the place where he landed “Xilai Chudi” and the initial thatched hut he built “Xilai An,” the nearby streets such as Xilai Zhengjie (Xilai Main Street), Xilai Houjie (Xilai Back Street), Xilai Xi, Xilai Dong, and Xidong Xin all derive their names from this history.

The construction of Hualin Temple underwent a historical process of rise and decline, followed by decline and then revival. After the establishment of Xilai An, it underwent multiple renovations through the Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, and was converted into a brick-and-timber structure several times. The transmission of the Dharma never ceased, and the temple flourished continuously. Over 1,100 years after the temple’s original establishment, in the eleventh year of the Shunzhi era (1654) of the Qing Dynasty, the abbot Zongfu raised funds to expand the monastery. He added meditation rooms, monks' quarters, the Mahavira Hall, and developed courtyards with lush trees and flowing water. This created a more refined, elegant, and serene Buddhist monastery spanning an area of 30,000 square meters, and the name was changed from Xilai An to Hualin Temple.

After Abbot Zongfu, his disciple Lixin continued the construction efforts, dedicating nearly ten years of hard work, which led to a gathering of numerous monks at Hualin Temple and thriving incense offerings, making it one of the most renowned Buddhist monasteries in Guangzhou at the time. In the fortieth year of the Kangxi era (1701) of the Qing Dynasty, the temple constructed the Relic Pagoda Hall, which housed a seven-tiered stone stupa. The stupa was located in the middle of the street in front of Hualin Temple, standing about 7 meters tall with six sides and seven levels. Each side had doors adorned with carvings and fine patterns. Inside the pagoda tomb were 22 sarira (relics) of the Buddha, stored in four protective layers from the outside in: stone, wood, copper, and silver. From the twenty-fifth to the twenty-ninth year of the Daoguang era (1845–1849) of the Qing Dynasty, the abbot Zhizhuan of Hualin Temple, following an imperial decree, copied the designs of the Arhat paintings from Hangzhou’s Jinghui Temple and returned to construct the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats. According to historical records, the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats in the early Republican period was grand and magnificent: the hall was laid out in a field formation. On either side of the main gate stood over-ten-foot tall Vajra guardians. Entering the gate, the northern shrine enshrined the Three Jewels of Buddhism. There were courtyards on both sides of the central area, with corridors displaying the statues of the Five Hundred Arhats. The statues were life-sized, each with unique expressions and poses reflecting joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. Among them was a statue modeled after the Italian navigator Marco Polo, who had come to China during the Yuan Dynasty. The hall also contained a 4-meter-high, 1-ton bronze Ashoka Pagoda.

However, by the early Republican period, most of the temple properties of Hualin Temple were confiscated by the government. The halls and corridors were demolished and converted into residential houses, leaving only the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats.

Guangzhou Hualin Temple

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the government implemented religious policies and allocated special funds multiple times for the restoration of the temple. In 1963, the municipal government designated the temple as a key municipal cultural heritage site. In 1965, the White Stone Pagoda was moved to Guangzhou’s Lanpu Park. During the relocation, a set of nested boxes containing Buddha’s relics was discovered at the center of the pagoda base, consisting of four layers: stone, wood, copper, and silver. The outer stone box lid bore the vermilion characters “Sheli Zi” (Buddha’s Relics). The copper box lid was inscribed with “Respectfully assembled by the abbot of Hualin Temple, Master Zhihai, in the early autumn of the Xinwei year of the Kangxi reign, Qing Dynasty.” Inside were pearls, amber, and agarwood. The silver box was also engraved with lotus and dot patterns. Since the renovation and reopening in 1986, gradually reclaimed and restored buildings have been put back into use. In 1989, the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats opened to the public first. In 1994, the White Stone Pagoda was moved back from Lanpu Park to Hualin Temple and placed at the northern end of the temple complex, facing the main gate. Despite over 300 years of vicissitudes, the white stone pagoda remains well-preserved and retains its original charm. In 1996, the relics originally stored in the relic pagoda were also returned to Hualin Temple by the Municipal Gardening Bureau.

Today’s Hualin Temple is situated in a bustling urban district, yet enjoys a tranquil atmosphere within the noise. The temple faces east and is entered from the west. On both sides of the mountain gate stand pairs of stone lions and stone drums. The stone plaque above the gate is inscribed with the characters “Hualin Chan Temple.” The flanking stone pillars bear a couplet: “The Huayan World embraces myriad Buddhas; the forested Vulture Peak hides five hundred enlightened beings.” Upon entering the gate, stone pagodas flank both ends. To the south lies a row of single-story rooms, including a Merit Hall. Adjacent to the Merit Hall is the First Patriarch Bodhidharma Hall, which houses a seated statue of Bodhidharma. After the completion of the new Bodhidharma Hall in 1997, the statue was moved there.

Hall of Five Hundred Arhats

As Hualin Temple does not have a Mahavira Hall, the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats serves as the main hall. Prior to the construction of the Bodhidharma Hall, it was also the only hall in the temple.

Upon entering the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats, two towering, fierce-looking Vajra Guardians holding vajras stand guard on both sides of the entrance, facing the gate. Above the door hangs a stone plaque inscribed with “Hall of Five Hundred Arhats.” The stone pillars are engraved with a couplet: “Attain the Bodhi mind to reveal responses; reach the blissful realm to attain serenity.” Entering the hall, you’ll first see a big-bellied, smiling Maitreya Buddha welcoming you. Behind the Buddha is the guardian deity of the temple, General Skanda. At the northern end of the hall are three large Buddha statues: Sakyamuni Buddha in the center, Kasyapa Buddha on the left, and Amitabha Buddha on the right. The western wall enshrines a full-body statue of Ksitigarbha. The eastern wall features a wooden statue of the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin, facing Ksitigarbha. The main entrance of the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats faces south, and the central axis runs from the gate to the northern Three Saints. The eastern and western sides feature corridors, with five hundred arhat statues enshrined on over one-meter-high bases. The original statues were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. The current statues, meticulously crafted in 1997 based on the 1890s “Illustrated Five Hundred Arhats” and other sources, are made from high-quality sandalwood. Initially carved by artisans from Zhejiang, the statues were then completed using materials such as linen, plaster, and raw lacquer sourced from Chaozhou, Shantou, Fujian, and Hubei. The process involved over ten steps, including seaming, grooving, fabric mounting, plastering, polishing, varnishing, and gilding. The project was completed in December 1997.

Nowadays, most of the newly sculpted arhat statues are enshrined on pedestals, while dozens more are densely arranged on elevated platforms to the east of the inscription “Exquisite Forms and Solemn Dignity.” The arhats display a range of emotions and postures, resplendent in gold, truly captivating visitors who find themselves lingering and reluctant to leave.

Bodhidharma Hall

The Bodhidharma Hall was rebuilt in the 1990s to commemorate the patriarch Bodhidharma. The hall faces south and features a wooden couplet on its stone pillars that reads: “The Eastern Land inherits the wondrous Dharma of Zen; the Western Realm opens the splendid Hualin.” This praises the first patriarch Bodhidharma for bringing religious culture from the West to China. At the center of the northern wall sits a white stone pedestal with a statue of Bodhidharma. He is clad in a kasaya, sitting in the half-lotus position with his right foot tucked up — resembling an Indian monk. The eastern and western walls of the hall display two painted panels depicting the legendary story of Bodhidharma’s eastward journey to China, including tales such as “Meditating Facing the Wall for Nine Years,” “Crossing the River on a Reed,” and “Returning West with One Shoe.”

The Hualin Temple Stone Pagoda, also known as the Relic Pagoda, is located within Hualin Temple on Xiajiu Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou. Built in the fortieth year of the Kangxi era (1701) of the Qing Dynasty, it is made of white marble in the form of a hexagonal seven-tiered pavilion-style tower, standing 7 meters tall. In 1965, the pagoda was moved to Lanpu Park on Jiefang North Road. During the move, a sealed four-layered box was discovered at the center of the pagoda base, consisting of small stone, copper, silver, and wooden boxes. The outermost stone box lid was inscribed with the vermilion characters “Sheli Zi” (Buddha’s Relics). The copper box lid bore inscriptions such as “Respectfully assembled by the abbot of Hualin Temple, Master Zhihai, in the early autumn of the Xinwei year of the Kangxi reign, Qing Dynasty,” and inside were relics, pearls, amber, and agarwood. The silver box was engraved with lotus and dot patterns, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. It was later moved back to the temple. In 1963, the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government designated Hualin Temple as a cultural heritage site.

Address: No. 31, Hualin Temple Front, Xiajiu Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou

Type: Temple

Recommended Visit Duration: About 1 hour

Opening Hours:

8:00-17:00

Ticket Information:

Free admission.

Templefront Community: Templefront Community…… Detailed information about Templefront Community++

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Guangzhou Cultural Heritage Sites