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Guiyang Tour of Hongfu Temple
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Hongfu Temple is in Qianling Park, which is situated in
the northwest of Guiyang, Guizhou Province. About 1.5 kilometers
(about 0.93 mile) from downtown area, and is considered to be the
most famous Buddhist site in the province.
'Hongfu' is Chinese for 'good fortune', which is an apt
name for the temple considering its history. It was in 1672 when
Chisong, a monk during the Ming Dynasty founded the temple. It had
very poor beginnings, being little more than a small hut, but
Chisong was determined that it should become a revered shrine and
through his persistence many local officials gave their support. In
time the temple was to become the most important Buddhist temple in
the area.
The temple complex is made up of a number of halls and
the most important of these are the Daxiongbaodian Hall, the
Kwan-yin Hall (the Guanyin Hall), and the Sutra Collection Pavilion.
The architectural style is magnificent and venerable. Over the past
300 years the temple has undergone several rebuilds, repairs and
enlargements and is now a very well preserved example of its kind.
As the largest Buddhist temple in Guizhou Province it has been
declared a key cultural relic and has been open to the public since
1983.
In recent years many prominent people have visited the
temple and in accordance with Chinese tradition have left poetry in
praise of the inspiring architecture and its setting. A stroll
through the temple compound will enable you to enjoy its peaceful
environment while reflecting upon its splendid past. |
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