Revisit Kaiyuan Temple: A Deep Dive into Culture Beyond the Buzz

Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple, a thousand-year-old temple, is a cultural gem not to be missed on a trip to Quanzhou. This time, I revisited the temple with my parents, hoping to share its charm with them. 🌟Highlights: Upon entering Kaiyuan Temple, the first thing that catches the eye is the East and West Pagodas. ✅The west pagoda (Renshou Pagoda) of Kaiyuan Temple features a relief of the Monkey King on the fourth floor, on the right side of the stone gate facing northeast. This Monkey King relief has a pointed mouth and puffed cheeks, wears a golden headband, holds a large ghost-headed broadsword in his left hand, and has his right hand curved in front of his chest, fingers twirling a large string of prayer beads around his neck. A scroll of the "Peacock King Mantra" and a treasure gourd are tied around his waist. The words "Monkey King" are also engraved in the upper right corner of the relief. ✅The east pagoda (Zhenguo Pagoda), one of the filming locations for "Black Myth: Wukong," has gained popularity with the game's explosive success. It stands majestically, having weathered the storms of time, yet remains unshaken. The tower is exquisitely carved, with every detail showcasing the superb skills of ancient craftsmen. ✅The "Dagongren" (working people) sculptures are located atop the stone pillars of the Mahavira Hall, which was originally built in the second year of the Tang Chui Gong era, and the existing structure is a relic from the tenth year of the Ming Chongzhen era. On top of the four stone pillars outside the main gate of the hall, at the junction of the stones and the dougong (interlocking wooden brackets), there are ten "Dagongren" sculptures. Most of them are dressed in blue short jackets, green short trousers, and blue headscarves. These sculptures are in various poses: some are half-kneeling with one foot supporting the ground, both hands holding up the dougong as if exerting all their strength; others are sitting cross-legged, one hand resting on their body or lightly grasping their clothes, the other hand holding up the pillar above their heads, with a more relaxed expression, vividly depicting the scene of silently "lifting the dougong." From an architectural perspective, they are called "Han Fan Tai Cuo Jiao" or "Fan Zai Tai Dou," and in ancient legends, they are also called Atlas or the God of Strength, symbolizing that with the Vajra warriors holding and supporting, the building can be stable. ✅The thousand-year-old mulberry tree is located in the west corridor on the west side of the Mahavira Hall in Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple. This ancient mulberry tree has a legend of "Sanglian" (mulberry lotus). It is as old as the temple itself and was once split into three parts by lightning during a storm, but it tenaciously survived. It bloomed rarely in the late autumn of 2022 and even bore mulberries at the beginning of 2024. This magical phenomenon has attracted many tourists. 🗓Recommended Routes: Central Axis Classic Tour - Route: Ziyun Screen -天王殿 (Tianwang Hall) -拜亭 (Worship Pavilion) - Mahavira Hall -甘露戒坛 (Ganlu Precept Altar) -藏经阁 (Sutra Repository). East and West Pagodas Focused Tour - Route: 天王殿 (Tianwang Hall) - Mahavira Hall - East and West Pagodas -甘露戒坛 (Ganlu Precept Altar) -藏经阁 (Sutra Repository). In-depth Cultural Tour - Route: Ziyun Screen -天王殿 (Tianwang Hall) -拜亭 (Worship Pavilion) - Mahavira Hall -檀越祠 (Tanyue Shrine) - Master Hongyi Memorial Hall -准提禅院 (Cundi Chan Monastery) -甘露戒坛 (Ganlu Precept Altar) -藏经阁 (Sutra Repository) -安养院 (Anyang Courtyard) -功德堂 (Merit Hall) -水陆寺 (Shuilu Temple) - East and West Pagodas. Leisurely Stroll - Route: Enter from the west gate -天王殿 (Tianwang Hall) - Mahavira Hall - East and West Pagodas - courtyard stroll -甘露戒坛 (Ganlu Precept Altar) -藏经阁 (Sutra Repository) - exit from the south gate. 📝Tips： Here, you can experience the profoundness of Buddhist culture and appreciate the ingenious artistic conception of the ancients. Amidst the bricks and tiles, carvings and sculptures, embark on a cultural dialogue that transcends time and space.