Nanshan Guanghua Temple, as one of the three national model temples of Chinese Buddhism, was founded by Master Yuanzhuo, who followed Guo Hongyi. As we all know, Master Hongyi first became a monk at Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou and practiced the Pure Land Sect. He once worshiped Master Yinguang, the thirteenth ancestor of the Pure Land Sect, as his teacher at Fayu Temple in Mount Putuo. Later, Master Hongyi discovered that the "Pure Land" was impure. In society, impurity phenomena often appeared among monks, such as those who were just trying to catch a bell and bell-ringing, and many people who followed others' influence.
In order to uphold Buddhist virtues, Master Hongyi put pressure on himself and determined to take the promotion of Vinaya and the reconstruction of precepts as his own responsibility, and converted to Vinaya sect. Hongyi devoted himself to the study of the Nanshan Vinaya Sect, and once wrote the "Bhikkhu's Precepts and Appearances of the Four-Fun Vinaya", "Nanshan Vinaya at Home", and "The Bhiksu's Precepts and Appearances", which are unique throughout the ages and have been included in the Tripitaka.
Speaking of the Vinaya Sect, its actual founder was Daoxuan in the Tang Dynasty. Because Daoxuan lived in Zhongnan Mountain, it was called Nanshan Vinaya Sect or Nanshan Sect. It got its name because it emphasized the study and transmission of precepts. It is one of the most popular sects of Chinese Buddhism. one. Everyone likes to add Nanshan in front of Guanghua Temple. In addition to Guanghua Temple itself being located on Fenghuang Mountain (also known as Nanshan) in Putian, it also seems to have a lot to do with the Buddhist sect practiced by the monks in the temple.
The construction of Taoist style and academic style is the cornerstone of the prosperity and development of the temple. Master Yuanzhuo was taught and influenced by Master Hongyi. Therefore, a strict ordination system is implemented for monks in temples. At the same time, it is also the temple where Fujian Buddhist College is located. Although it is not as famous as Nanputuo Temple in Xiamen and Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, in the minds of monks, Guanghua Temple is a pure Chinese Buddhist temple and an institution of higher learning worth studying.
Walking in the temple, you will find carefully that there is only one incense burner in front of each main hall, and a basket of incense next to it. There is also a warm reminder card attached next to it, which says: : Please use three sticks of incense to worship Buddha. There are many more rules and regulations, including not taking photos of Bodhisattvas. As soon as you see it, you will feel its difference. After walking around, you will feel the tranquility of Guanghua Temple, surrounded by green mountains and green waters, accompanied by pilgrims and monks. Although you can't see the crowded scenes in front of Guandi Temple, some are just from not far away. There is the sound of reading in the Chinese Studies Junior Class, but you will experience inner peace and stability.
We all know that Xinghua Prefecture ranks first among all Fujian provinces, and was praised by predecessors as “Ten Rooms and Nine Books, Longmen Half the World”. The Zheng San Ancestor Temple in the temple commemorates the lecture site of the three famous Confucian brothers Zheng Lu who built the temple in Shirdi. There is a plaque in the temple that reads "Opening of Pulai Studies", which seems to prove that Xinghua Prefecture has been focusing on promoting religion since ancient times. Looking at today's political arena, officials from Putian are also on the list.
Notes
Pure Land Sect: A sect named after its roots in the Pure Land belief of Mahayana Buddhism and specializing in the method of rebirth in the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha. The ancestral home of China’s Pure Land Sect is Xiangji Temple in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. Pure Land Buddhism and Zen Buddhism are the two branches that have the greatest influence on Chinese Han Buddhism. Their influence has been far-reaching. Since its founding in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it has spread to China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other places, and it continues to this day.
Xinghua Prefecture: Today's Putian City, Fujian Province. Putian has beautiful mountains and rivers, outstanding people, hairpins and hairpins one after another.