Disambiguation Note: There are a number of temples in China that go by this name.
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Kāiyuán sì 開元寺
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Kāiyuán sì 開元寺 is a major temple in Fújiàn 福建.
In 736 (Kāiyuán 開元 26), Emperor Xuánzōng 玄宗 (r. 713-756) of the Táng 唐 Dynasty ordered that each province in the country name one temple after the current reign name, Kāiyuán 開元. Thus, there were originally a number of different temples that went by this name. In modern times, this temple in Quánzhōu 泉州 is one of the most famous. The temple had originally been established in 686 (Chuígǒng 垂拱 2) during the de facto reign of Empress Wǔzétiān 武則天. it was built in the mulberry garden of one Huáng Shǒugōng 黃守恭, whose trees began producing white lotus flowers after Huáng saw a monk in a dream. Because of this, the temple was originally called Liánhuá Temple 蓮花寺.
Over the years the temple was continually expanded. In 1285 (Zhìyuán 至元 22) the temple and adjoining branch temples were merged into the Dà kāiyuán wànshòu chán Temple 大開元萬壽禪寺, making it one of the four largest temples in China at the time. The temple currently occupies and estimated 78,000 square meters.
Important Abbots
Notable Residents
Important Buildings or Artifacts
Associated Organizations and Groups
Kāiyuán sì 開元寺
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Kāiyuán sì 開元寺 is a major temple in Cháozhōu 潮州.
In 736 (Kāiyuán 開元 26), Emperor Xuánzōng 玄宗 (r. 713-756) of the Táng 唐 Dynasty ordered that each province in the country name one temple after the current reign name, Kāiyuán 開元. Thus, there were originally a number of different temples that also went by this same name.
In the modern period, both the physical plant and the reputation of the temple were revitalized by Yíguāng 怡光, who became abbot shortly after 1908. Yíguāng had several notable students whom he taught at the temple. Among these were the Buddhist layman Wáng Hóngyuàn 王弘願, who studied with Yíguāng from 1915 or 1916 on. Wáng later became a controversial figure for his teaching of Japanese esoteric Buddhism 東密. Yíguāng seems to have allowed Wáng's activities and in May, 1924, the Japanese Shingon 真言 master Gonda Raifu 權田雷斧 and several of his colleagues came to Kāiyuán Temple to transmit their brand of Esoteric Buddhism through abiṣeka 灌頂.
Although Wáng moved to another temple by the end of the 1920s, Kāiyuán Temple's focus on esoteric Buddhism continued after 1942 under the abbacy of Chúnmì 純密, a disciple of Yíguāng and a student of Shingon esotericism 東密.
Important Abbots
Notable Residents
Important Buildings or Artifacts
Associated Organizations and Groups