Guoen Temple

　　Guoen Temple is situated in Jicheng Town, Xinxing County, Yunfu City, Guangdong Province. It is the birthplace and the place where Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch of Chinese Zen Buddhism and a celebrated Buddhist monk in Chinese history, was born and passed away. Along with Guangxiao Temple in Guangzhou and Nanhua Temple in Shaoguan, it is revered as one of the “Three Ancestral Temples of the Sixth Patriarch” and is considered the “Foremost Sacred Site in Lingnan” within the Buddhist community.

　　Originally named Baoying Temple (Temple of Gratitude), it was built by Master Huineng in the first year of the Hongdao era (683 AD) during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty to repay the kindness of his parents. In the second year of the Shenglong era (706 AD) under Emperor Zhongzong, an imperial decree conferred the name “Guoen Temple.” The plaque at the temple’s mountain gate inscribed with “Imperially Bestowed Guoen Temple” was handwritten by Empress Wu Zetian. Due to its location against the scenic Longshan Mountain, it is also known as “Longshan Temple.” The main structure of Guoen Temple is a tiered rectangular platform built from massive stones arranged horizontally in three levels, following the contour of the mountain and gradually ascending. The temple complex consists of three sections: the Vajra Hall, the Mahavira Hall, and the Sixth Patriarch Hall. The two corridors house numerous Buddha halls and meditation rooms dedicated to figures such as Bodhidharma, Ksitigarbha, Maudgalyayana, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra. Adjacent to the temple are structures such as the Guanyin Hall and the Baoying Pagoda. The temple complex is exquisitely constructed and impressively laid out, covering a total floor area of over 9,200 square meters.

　　Within the temple grounds, remnants of Master Huineng’s life and practice remain, including the site where the Sixth Patriarch bathed, a bodhi tree he personally planted, and a well he dug. In 2006, precious Buddhist relics such as shariras (relics of the Buddha) were discovered at the underground palace of the Baoying Pagoda. These sariras are now enshrined in the Relic Hall for pilgrims and visitors to pay their respects.

　　The virtuous legacy of the Sixth Patriarch Huineng continues to shine brightly. As an ancient temple with a thousand-year history and a key center of Zen Buddhism, Guoen Temple is ranked among China’s famous Buddhist temples, attracting pilgrims and tourists from around the world to worship and admire its splendor.