This website documents the temples visited during the Woodenfish: Guangzhou Platform Sutra Workshop, Dec 28, 2012 - Jan 6, 2013.
For five days we carefully read the Platform Sutra, and stayed in Nanhua Temple the home of the Sixth Patriach Huineng 六祖惠能. We then visited temples associated with the Sixth Patriarch. At each temple we were greeted by the Zhike 知客 "guest master" or abbot 方丈 and given a tour. I was asked to translate for the non-Chinese speakers of our group. I've written down what I can recall, and added some notes. The photographs were taken by myself, Peiying Lin, and Robban Toleno.
Please contact me if you would like to suggest amendments or offer other memories.
For five days we carefully read the Platform Sutra, and stayed in Nanhua Temple the home of the Sixth Patriach Huineng 六祖惠能. We then visited temples associated with the Sixth Patriarch. At each temple we were greeted by the Zhike 知客 "guest master" or abbot 方丈 and given a tour. I was asked to translate for the non-Chinese speakers of our group. I've written down what I can recall, and added some notes. The photographs were taken by myself, Peiying Lin, and Robban Toleno.
Please contact me if you would like to suggest amendments or offer other memories.
Yunmen Temple
Yunmen Temple 雲門寺, also known as Dajue Chan Si 大覺禪寺 ("Chan Temple of Great Awakening")
Temple was restored by Master Foyuan 佛原 (1923-2009), who passed away February 2009. Foyuan was given the temple by his master Xuyun 虛雲 (also written Hsu Yun, Empty Cloud, 1840-1959). When Foyuan was a promising young man, he often served as the personal attendant for Master Xuyun. Foyuan was named by Xuyun ‘the thirteenth patriarch of the Yunmen School’, after reviving the lineage.
Note: An English memoriam for Foyuan can be found on Shakya Ming Zhen’s website
Temple was restored by Master Foyuan 佛原 (1923-2009), who passed away February 2009. Foyuan was given the temple by his master Xuyun 虛雲 (also written Hsu Yun, Empty Cloud, 1840-1959). When Foyuan was a promising young man, he often served as the personal attendant for Master Xuyun. Foyuan was named by Xuyun ‘the thirteenth patriarch of the Yunmen School’, after reviving the lineage.
Note: An English memoriam for Foyuan can be found on Shakya Ming Zhen’s website
Guo'en Temple
Guo'en Si 囯恩寺 "Gratitude of the Nation Temple" is the site of Huineng's final retirement, and where he died in 713.
This temple is located in the same town where Huineng was born; his parents’ tomb is on site. This beautiful temple is fairly well preserved, and displays the elegant and refined architectural sensibility of the South.
Recently, an impressive new pagoda was built; during its construction, the base of a Tang pagoda was discovered and carefully excavated. The treasures found within are well-preserved and on display. These beautiful, yet anonymous, treasures that date to the time of the Sixth Patriarch truly stir the imagination of visitors and residents alike.
This temple is located in the same town where Huineng was born; his parents’ tomb is on site. This beautiful temple is fairly well preserved, and displays the elegant and refined architectural sensibility of the South.
Recently, an impressive new pagoda was built; during its construction, the base of a Tang pagoda was discovered and carefully excavated. The treasures found within are well-preserved and on display. These beautiful, yet anonymous, treasures that date to the time of the Sixth Patriarch truly stir the imagination of visitors and residents alike.
Photographs are courtesy of Robban Toleno, Peiying Lin, and Jason Protass.
All text and photographs are copyright Jason Avi Protass, and may not be reproduced or used for commercial purposes without consent.