Gateway Tower
Bright Filial Piety Temple located on Guangxiao Road is a monumental tribute to the grandeur of Ancient Chinese architecture. A religious centre of the highest importance in Ancient China, the holy premises offer the visitor a comprehensive view to the cultural and spiritual heritage of Chinese Buddhism.
The temple traces its origins over 1700 years back to the Western Han Dynasty. It was initially built to serve as a royal palace and was later used as a centre to conduct lectures before the establishment of a Zen Buddhist temple in the course of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 - 1279). Thus the Bright Filial Piety Temple has the double distinction of being not only the most ancient temple in the Guangdong Province but also of preceding the inception of the Guangzhou City. The temple was a place of abode for many imminent monks who contributed greatly towards translating sutras and spreading Buddhism. The greatest among them was Hui Neng, considered the 6th master of Zen Buddhism.
The premises contain many notable buildings of which the Sixth Ancestor Hall was built in remembrance of Hui Neng. An octagonal pagoda enshrining his hair is also extant. The design Mahavihara Hall has influenced the architecture of numerous other Chinese temples.
The oldest iron towers in China are also to be found in the Bright Filial Piety Temple. The West tower built in 963 antedated the East tower by four years. Only the latter has survived completely. This tower is called the Thousand-Buddha Tower as it is decorated by approximately 1000 shrines carved on the outside, each containing a delicately made Buddha statue.
Another architectural splendor is the Dharani Pillar which is distinguished by its unusual mushroom shape. Constructed with bluestone in 826 the Maha Karuna Dharani Sutra is inscribed on this novel structure.
The Bright Filial Piety Temple provides a wonderful insight to the Ancient Chinese civilization making Guangzhou an important place worthy of visiting. Among the many places of accommodation available, a traveler searching for a Guangzhou luxury hotel can enjoy a convenient and relaxing stay at the Shangri-La Hotel, Guangzhou, situated in the heart of the city.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
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