Nature's Creation—The Everlasting Life Within the Zen Temple
Despite being located in a bustling city, Liurong Temple has become a tranquil ecological world of its own, where ancient trees and living creatures together interpret the meaning of Zen.
The ancient shade of the Six Banyan Trees: A thousand-year-old greenery as described by Su Dongpo
The six ancient banyan trees that inspired Su Dongpo to write calligraphy have weathered the storms of time, but their life continues in the temple in a new form. Today, the banyan trees replanted by later generations still flourish, especially the ancient banyan in front of the Mahavira Hall, its canopy like clouds and its roots like dragons, creating a green canopy for the temple. Strolling under the trees, a gentle breeze blows, as if one can have a dialogue across time with the literary giant of a thousand years ago. The "green" here is not just a color, but a direct manifestation of the continuity of historical life and the "vibrant" state of Zen Buddhism.
Bonsai Gardens: A Zen Universe Within a Small Space
The temple houses an exquisite bonsai garden, a showcase of Lingnan bonsai art. Each bonsai, each a masterpiece, has been meticulously cultivated and pruned by monks and artisans over decades. Within a small pot, the vigor of pines and cypresses, the aloofness of plum blossoms, and the tranquility of bamboo groves are condensed. This is not merely horticulture, but also a form of spiritual practice—finding the grand in the microcosm, comprehending the principles of nature through form, embodying the Buddhist philosophy of "a flower is a world, a leaf is a Bodhi tree."
Humanistic craftsmanship: Frozen epics and temples of art
The architecture and cultural relics of Liurong Temple are living fossils of the religious, architectural and art history of the Lingnan region.
Thousand Buddha Flower Pagoda: A Magnificent Movement of Soaring Dougong (bracket sets)
The Flower Pagoda is the soul of Liurong Temple and an outstanding representative of Chinese pavilion-style brick pagodas.
- Magnificent Appearance: The tower stands 57.6 meters tall, with nine visible levels and seventeen hidden levels inside. Its red and white exterior resembles a soaring flower pillar, hence the name "Flower Tower." Each level is covered with glazed tiles, and the eight corners are slightly upturned, like blooming petals, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.
- Exquisite Structure: The tower features a spiral staircase leading to the top. From the top, one can vaguely discern the atmosphere of "Flower Tower in the Sunny Mist," one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Guangzhou in ancient times, and enjoy a panoramic view of the old city of Guangzhou. The thousand-Buddha bronze pillar at the top of the tower, along with the Buddha statues, the Nine Heavens Plate, and the precious pearl, weighs over 5,000 kilograms in total. The casting craftsmanship is superb, and it has stood firm through wind and rain.
The Mahavira Hall and Guanyin Hall: An Artistic Space of Solemn Buddhist Images
- The Great Buddha Hall: The hall houses three colossal bronze Buddha statues, cast during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. Each statue weighs 10 tons and possesses a solemn appearance, making them rare examples of giant bronze Buddhist statues in South China. The hall is majestic, supported by dougong brackets, and retains the style of Ming and Qing dynasty palaces in Lingnan.
- Guanyin Hall: Home to a beautiful bronze statue of Guanyin, with a compassionate and serene expression and exquisite craftsmanship. This place is particularly popular with worshippers, serving as a tranquil spot for making wishes and praying for blessings.
Stele Gallery and Plaques: A Dialogue Between Documents Across Time
The temple's stele gallery houses numerous precious stone inscriptions dating back to the Song Dynasty, including a replica of the full text of Wang Bo's "Stele of the Relic Pagoda of Baozhuangyan Temple in Guangzhou," a valuable resource for studying Guangzhou's history and the spread of Buddhism. The "Six Banyan Trees" plaque hanging above the mountain gate, though not an original work by Su Shi (Dongpo), faithfully captures the spirit of his calligraphy and serves as a cultural symbol of the temple.
Photography Tips:
The best vantage point for a panoramic view of the Flower Pagoda is in front of the release pond at the temple entrance, where you can capture both the pagoda's reflection and its image.
Use a telephoto lens to capture the exquisite details of the glazed tile eaves of the tower;
In the early morning or after rain when there are fewer people, you can capture images of ancient trees and palaces shrouded in a tranquil atmosphere;
The Buddha statues inside the hall are solemn; please maintain respect when taking photos and refrain from using flash.
