广东英文南华寺导游词

[Introduction] --- [The Cao Gate] --- [The Hall of Heavenly Kings] --- [The Skyamuni Hall] --- [The Vegetarian Hall] --- [The Scripture House] --- [The Sixth Patriarch Hall ] --- [The Lingzhao Pagoda]

The Nanhua Temple

(Ladies and Gentlemen :

We are now on our way to a Buddhist monastery-the Nanhua may have visited some other Buddhist temples elsewhere in China,but i can assure that no knowledge of Chinese Buddhism is complete without a visit to the Nanhua Temple because it is the ancestral home of Chan Buddhism,which is the dominant Buddhist sect in ,the temple’s imposing old structure ,its Buddhist statues that are made of real human bodies ,and its pervading religious atmosphere,are sure to strike you as more than worth a visit .What’s more,it is located in a quiet and serene hill-side ,absolutely secluded from the busting world .You will find it great to forget all the worldly troubles - though not for long-and feel closer to Mother Nature.) [Introduction]

The Nanhua Temple is situated 24 kilometers to the south of

Shaoguan City is a 1500-year-old Buddhist monastery dating back to 504 AD during China’s Southern and Northern Dynasties Period.

Buddhism wad introduced into China from india in 67 AD during the Eastern Han Dynasty(25-220AD).In the course of its long-term coexistence and mutual permeation with Confucianism and Daoism, it gradually evolved into many branches in China and, down to the 7th century during the Tang Dynasty , Chan Buddhism became the dominant sect of Chinese Buddhism after Hui Neng preached his Chan Buddhist doctrine and established the south sect of Chan Buddhism .Hui Neng Buddhist doctine spread throughout the country and was disseminated to Japan ,Korea ,South East Asia and even to America and Europe ;therefore the Nanhua Temple has been reputed ad the “ancestral home”of Chan Buddhism and occupies an important place in the history Chinese Buddhism.

Hui Neng was born into a poor farmer’s family in Xinxing Country of Guangdong Province in 638AD during the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty .He never learned to read and write but wad born a Buddhist genius .At the age of 24 he became a disciple of Hong Ren ,the fifth patriarch of Chan Buddhist Sect , and was first assigned to work as an odd-jobber in the temple .Eight months later ,the fifth patriarch,considering himself getting too old ,

ordered that catch of his disciples should hand in a piece of Buddhist libretto ,by which he would choose the best as successor to the patriarchate . His eldest disciple ,Shen Xiu by name , was determined to win .He wrote :”My body is a pipal tree and mu mind is as clear and clean as a mirror ;I will often wipe them to keep them away from dust .”The patriarch was not satisfied with his libretto , saying that it was not the point and was just “walking with only one foot in and the other still out of the Buddhist house”.Hui Neng also objected to Shen Xiu ‘s idea :”The pipal is not an actual existence and neither is the mirror ;since nothing is existence where can the dust rest on ?”The Fifth Patriarch thought highly of Hui Neng’s Buddhist nature and so secretly passed the Buddhist vestment and alms bowl on to Hui Neng,which was a symbol that Hui Neng would become the sixth patriarch of the Chan Buddhist Sect.

Hui Neng had stayed and preached Buddhist doctrine in the Nanhua Temple for 36 years (677-713AD).He passed away in 713 AD and his dead body was made into a Buddhist statue,which is still enshrined in the temple now .

You may wonder what and how Hui Neng’s Chan Buddhist doctrine to Buddhist dogmas,sufferings and miseries exist everywhere in this