No. 79: Guangxiao Temple, Putian, Fujian

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on November 11, 2013.)

One of the fierce Wisdom Kings (明王) in a rear hall at Guangxiao Temple (光孝寺), Putian,
Fujian (福建, 莆田市). These esoteric (密宗) figures are especially popular in Japanese temples.

October 28, 2011 - With a little time to spare, I reached my third temple of the day, Putian's Guangxiao ("Bright Filial Piety") Temple (also known as Meifeng--"Plum Peak"--Temple).

EXTRA: A Walk in Old Guangzhou (Guangdong)

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on January 14, 2013.)

Click to see larger map

[Note: As I post this piece in April, 2014, I have heavily revised it to include references to the map and to add links to other articles. I have also slightly changed the route from the original.]

EXTRA: Guangxiao Temple, Guangzhou, Guangdong

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on December 24, 2012.)

The Hair Pagoda (瘗发塔) at Guangxiao Temple (光孝寺) in Guangzhou, Guangdong (广东, 广州市), is said to
hold the hair shaved from Huineng (惠能), the Sixth Patriarch (六祖) of Chan (禅), when he became a monk.

November 19, 2010 - From Liurong Temple's gate, turn left, then left again. Not far away, down a leafy pedestrian path, lies Guangxiao Temple. One of the area's most significant temples, it's a mystery to me why it wasn't included on the list of 142 key temples. [There is some possibility that when the list was made in 1983, it wasn't in good enough condition to be included.]