Yongan Journey to Guishan Temple

I had been to Yong'an City, Sanming once before the Spring Festival, and came to Yong'an again not long after. It is very rare for me to visit the same place in such a short period of time in many years. Even so, there are different experiences and discoveries. For example, I didn’t go to Guishan Temple the last time I came here. Guishan Temple is only a few minutes away from the last time I came, but I didn’t notice it. Maybe it’s because I came to Yong’an again after such a short period of time! Guishan Zen Temple is hidden among lush forests and bamboos about 120 meters behind the Guanyin Stone in Guishan Park, Yong'an City. According to the old county chronicles of Yong'an, "The Temple of King Yinglie is outside the north gate and was formerly known as Guishan Temple." Next to the temple is a Guanyin Pavilion, which was rebuilt in the 58th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign in the Qing Dynasty. At the present Guishan Temple, the first thing that catches your eye is an iron four-pillar incense burner erected in front of the Heavenly King Hall. In the center of the hall corridor, there is a stone dragon column on each side, which looks lifelike and realistic. On each column base there is a sculptured stone turtle carrying a coiled dragon stone column, which is unique among the urban and rural temples in Yong'an. It symbolizes that the turtle god carries the temple, bringing blessings of fortune, longevity and prosperity. The couplets on both sides of the hall door read: "Eternal peace and prosperity, with clouds of mercy protecting all the gods and bringing them joy; the pure land of Guishan sees believers coming to pay homage and being moistened by the rain of Dharma." When you enter the Hall of Heavenly Kings, in the middle there is a seated statue of Maitreya Buddha with his chest exposed and a big smile on his face. Behind the statue is a standing statue of Skanda Bodhisattva. On both sides of the hall are four great Vajra statues. Passing through the Hall of Heavenly Kings is the Main Hall. In the center of the ground in front of the hall stands a three-tiered iron tripod and a four-pillar incense burner. On the right side of the main hall, the first floor is the guest hall, the second floor is the living quarters, and the third floor is the reception room and some living quarters. The building on the left is under construction. Couplets on the columns in front of the hall: (1) "The jade images of the Buddhas have returned to Yancheng to enlighten the lost; the golden bodies of the Three Treasures have reappeared at Guishan to open the path to enlightenment." (2) "Love is all in the heart. Saint Yao's heart is as empty as the earth. He points to the moon and waits to see it rise up from Turtle Mountain." (3) "The ten directions can control other directions in this world in the blink of an eye. The Tathagatas of the three ages first attain enlightenment and then achieve it in the blink of an eye." The couplet on the side of the temple door reads: "The three virtues of the Buddha are deep and sweet, and they nourish the world. There is no place that is not a pure land. The Dharma is vast and the light of mercy shines everywhere. There is no place that is not the Western Paradise." On both sides of the three holy Buddha statues in the main hall (the seated statue of Sakyamuni Buddha in the center and two disciples of Buddha standing on both sides, the older one is named "Venerable Kasyapa" and the middle-aged one is named "Venerable Ananda") are statues of the Eighteen Arhats. After investigation, it was found that the Tianwang Hall is located on Genshan Kunxiang and Yinshen, and is divided into Xinchou and Xinwei. It is located at the second degree of Douxiu and faces the seventh degree of Jingxiu. If the temple star is in the eight white sitting direction and there is a celestial star, the hero will become rich and noble. If the temple star is in the two black sitting direction and there is a celestial star, the hero will become rich and noble and have a large population. In front of the right side of the hall there is Geng Peak of Sanji, Xin Peak of Liuxiu, and on the left side there is Bing Peak of Liuxiu. It is very auspicious if one of the three auspicious and six beautiful peaks can be collected, or if two of them are close to the temple. Sanji is the place of fortune and misfortune, Liuxiu is the place of recommendation. If the temple is located in this place, it will be very auspicious for the local officials and people. Therefore, the temple is crowded with pilgrims all year round and the incense is prosperous. Guishan Zen Temple is a solemn and magnificent temple with gilded copper tiles, carved beams and painted buildings, and eaves with colorful paintings. It is surrounded by water on all sides and has a bulge in the middle. From a distance, you can see the mountains like waves and the rolling clouds. From a close distance, you can see the willows on the lake like smoke and the sparkling Yanjiang River. It is surrounded by bamboo forests and flowers and plants. The environment is quiet and the scenery is pleasant. It is an excellent place for sightseeing and worshiping Buddha.