Bright Filial Piety Temple - A Gateway to China's Ancient Buddhist Heritage

Bright Filial Piety Temple located on Guangxiao RoadHui Neng, considered the 6th master of Zen
is a monumental tribute to the grandeur of AncientBuddhism.
Chinese architecture. A religious centre of the highestThe premises contain many notable buildings of which
importance in Ancient China, the holy premises offerthe Sixth Ancestor Hall was built in remembrance of
the visitor a comprehensive view to the cultural andHui Neng. An octagonal pagoda enshrining his hair is
spiritual heritage of Chinese Buddhism.also extant. The design Mahavihara Hall has influenced
The temple traces its origins over 1700 years backthe architecture of numerous other Chinese temples.
to the Western Han Dynasty. It was initially built toThe oldest iron towers in China are also to be found
serve as a royal palace and was later used as ain the Bright Filial Piety Temple. The West tower built
centre to conduct lectures before the establishmentin 963 antedated the East tower by four years. Only
of a Zen Buddhist temple in the course of thethe latter has survived completely. This tower is
Southern Song Dynasty (1127 - 1279). Thus thecalled the Thousand-Buddha Tower as it is decorated
Bright Filial Piety Temple has the double distinction ofby approximately 1000 shrines carved on the outside,
being not only the most ancient temple in theeach containing a delicately made Buddha statue.
Guangdong Province but also of preceding theAnother architectural splendor is the Dharani Pillar
inception of the Guangzhou City. The temple was awhich is distinguished by its unusual mushroom shape.
place of abode for many imminent monks whoConstructed with bluestone in 826 the Maha Karuna
contributed greatly towards translating sutras andDharani Sutra is inscribed on this novel structure.
spreading Buddhism. The greatest among them was