Fenghua City Xuedou Temple - Maitreya Dojo

Xuedou Temple is located on Xuedou Mountain 7.5 kilometers west of Xikou Town, Fenghua City, Zhejiang Province. It was founded in the Jin Dynasty and flourished in the Tang Dynasty. During the Song Dynasty, eminent monks appeared in large numbers and the incense was flourishing. It was known as one of the ten Zen temples in the world.

According to records, a nun lived in a cottage on the top of Xuedou Mountain, which was called "Waterfall Courtyard". This was the creation of Xuedou Temple.

In the first year of Huichang (841) of Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty, the temple was moved to the foothills. Since then, the temple site has continued through the generations and has not been moved. In the late Dazhong year of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (859), the temple was destroyed by war. It was restored in the eighth year of Xiantong (867) and named "Waterfall Guanyin Temple". During the Jingde period of the Tang Dynasty (892-893), the fifth Zen Master Changtong of Nanyue served as the abbot of Xuedou Temple, repaired the temple, and was granted 1,300 acres of farmland. Later generations were honored as the first founder of Xuedou Zen Monastery. Since then, Xuedou Temple has been the jungle of Zen Buddhism. Historical records include the Fayan Sect, Yunmen Sect, Caodong Sect, Linji Sect and other sects.

During the Five Dynasties, there was a Budai monk in Fenghua (? 1916), who claimed to be named after him. He often carried a Budai and taught the masses, and he won the trust of the masses. Before he died, he said a verse: "Maitreya is the true Maitreya, and he has hundreds of billions of clones; he always shows it to people, but the world doesn't know it." Therefore, people think that Budai monk is the incarnation of Maitreya Bodhisattva, and he is sculpted in the middle of the Heavenly King Hall of the temple. His image.

According to the Hindu Buddha's "Maitreya Sutra", "Maitreya Sutra" and "Zengyi Agama Sutra", Maitreya's name is Ajita, he is a disciple of Sakyamuni and a native of South Tianzhu . The first Buddha passed away and was reborn in the inner courtyard of Tusita Heaven, one of the six heavens of desire in Buddhism, to teach and educate Bodhisattvas. After four thousand years, he was born into the human world. He became a Buddha under the flowering tree in Hualin Garden and spread Buddhism widely. Therefore, Maitreya is the future Buddha predicted by Buddhism to succeed Sakyamuni Buddha in the future. However, when Indian Buddhism was introduced to China and spread widely in China, Maitreya Buddha was shaped into the image of the Chinese monk Budai and Xiang, who was bare-chested and smiling, and was enshrined and worshiped by Chinese believers for generations. This is a reflection of the integration of Chinese traditional beliefs and foreign culture.

The deeds of Budai monk are recorded in "Biography of Eminent Monks of the Song Dynasty", "Records of Famous Sages in Two Zhejiang Provinces", and "Fenghua County Chronicles". When he was eight years old, he came to Changting, Fenghua. He often went to the market with a cloth bag on the back of his staff. When he saw something, he would beg for anything. Watch the time at ease." He was interpreted as Budai monk. It is said that Budai monk speaks erratically, sleeps and sleeps everywhere, and looks like a madman. "It shows good or bad luck to others, and it will definitely happen in time."

This person has a harmonious nature, always smiles, and pleases people, so he is called As the "Happy Monk". He always lived in Yuelin Temple in Fenghua and traveled far and wide. He once raised wood from Fujian to rebuild the three halls, four pavilions and three chambers of Yuelin Temple. After the Five Dynasties, Liang Zhenming passed away in Yuelin Temple in the second year of his reign (916). After the Song Dynasty, temples in Jiangsu and Zhejiang began to mold Maitreya Buddha statues in his image, which gradually spread throughout the country.

In 1934, the "Buddhist Dictionary" stated that Xuedou Temple is a Maitreya dojo, and together with the four Bodhisattva dojos of Putuo Guanyin, Wutai Manjusri, Emei Samantabhadra and Jiuhua Ksitigarbha, it is listed as the five major Buddhist dojos in China. Famous mountains. The temple enshrines the majestic seated statue of Maitreya in the center of the newly built Main Hall in recent years.

The Song Dynasty government attached great importance to Xuedou Temple and repeatedly awarded scriptures and materials, which brought Xuedou Temple to its peak. In the third year of Chunhua (992), Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty, he sent envoys to give scriptures and scriptures, and the scripture collection pavilion was built. In the second year, he was given two volumes of stone-engraved royal books. In the second year of Xianping of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty (999), it was named "Xue Dou Zisheng Zen Temple" and a plaque "Zisheng Zen Temple" was written on it. In the fourth year of Jingyou's reign (1037), Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty sleepwalked here and sent his servant Zhang Luxin to give him agarwood (carved wood rockery), platinum, dragon robes, dragon tea and other items, so it was named "Yingmeng Taoist Temple". In the first year of Qiandao of Emperor Xiaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty (1165), the bell was cast. In the fifth year of Chunyou (1245), Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty, he wrote to the emperor and granted the temple "Yingmeng Mingshan", which still exists today.

In the Song Dynasty, many eminent monks abbot Xuedou Temple. For example, in the first year of Qianxing in the Song Dynasty (1022), the Zen sect Yunmen The fourth generation of the sect, Zhongxian (980-1052), Zen Master served as the abbot of Xuedou Zisheng Temple. It lasted 31 years to expand the temple and establish the Yunmen Sect of Zen.

In the twenty-seventh year of Shaoxing (1157), Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty, Xuedou Temple was destroyed again. From the Shaoxing Period (1131-1162) to the Longxing Period (1163-1164) of the Southern Song Dynasty, Zen Master Ru Zhan, the 13th descendant of the Linji Sect, served as the abbot of Xuedou Temple and rebuilt the Buddhist temple, which was "extremely luxurious". During the Shaoxi period of the Southern Song Dynasty (1190-1193), Zen Master Zhijian, the twelfth generation of the Caodong Sect, served as the abbot of Xuedou Temple. His successor, Zen Master Tiantong Rujing, was the disciple of Zen Master Dogen, the founder of Japan's Caodong sect. Therefore, Japan's Caodong also respected Xuedou. Dou is the ancestral court. During the Chunyou reign of Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty (1241-1252), Zen Master Fan, the master of Linji Sect, served as the abbot. Lizong summoned the teacher to the Xiuzheng Hall, gave him gold-colored monk robes, listened to his sermons, and gave him the title of Zen Master Fojian. In the seventeenth year of the Yuan Dynasty (1280), Zen Master Shanlai of Linji Zong served as the abbot of Xuedou Temple. In the twenty-fifth year of the Yuan Dynasty (1288), the temple was destroyed by fire, and Zen Master Shanlai rebuilt it. It took three years to rebuild all the halls and pavilions, and the scale was even more magnificent.

In the 16th year of the Ming Dynasty (1643), Xuedou Temple was destroyed by war for the fourth time. In the second year, Zen Master Shi Qi, the 31st generation of Linji Sect, presided over the restoration. It took 18 years of hard work to restore the original view.

The Qing government also paid great attention to Xuedou Temple. During the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty (1821-1850), with the support of the Qing government, Zen Master Huizhi rebuilt temples, gates, pavilions and ponds. In the 32nd year of Guangxu (1906), Emperor Guangxu gave him jade seals, jade Buddhas, dragon robes, cassocks, dragon bowls, and hundreds of scriptures. The abbot, Monk Guoru, came to Beijing to welcome him, and the temple prepared a guard of honor to come down the mountain to welcome him back. It was a grand occasion. . The newly built Dharma Hall and Sutra Collection Building in the temple house these cultural relics. These cultural relics have been preserved to this day and have become the treasure of Xuedou Temple.

Since modern times, the Chiang Kai-shek family has also developed a connection with Xuedou Temple. Chiang Kai-shek's grandfather, Si Qian, was a devout Buddhist and devoted himself to spiritual practice after middle age. Wang Caiyu, Chiang Kai-shek's biological mother, had been a vegetarian all her life and worshiped Buddha. She was familiar with scriptures and often walked to Xuedou Temple to burn incense and worship. When Chiang Kai-shek lived in his hometown of Xikou Town, he often took his mother there to offer incense. In his later years, Wang Caiyu converted to Monk Guo Ru, the abbot of Xuedou Temple. After his death, a statue was hung in the temple for worship. Chiang Kai-shek often visited and stayed in the temple when he returned to his hometown. Master Taixu was appointed abbot in 1932. Chiang Kai-shek once asked him to explain the Heart Sutra to his first wife, Mao Fumei, and set up a quiet room in the temple for Mao to chant sutras and practice. Brothers Jiang Jingguo and Jiang Weiguo often came to Xuedou Temple since they were young. In a sense, Xuedou Temple once became the family temple of the Jiang family.

In 1968, Xuedou Temple was demolished, leaving only the east wing. After 1978, the government implemented the religious policy of freedom of belief, and the monks returned to Xuedou Temple. Since 1985, a preparatory committee for the restoration of Xuedou Temple has been established, and Master Guangde, executive vice president of the Ningbo Buddhist Association, has been elected as director and abbot of Xuedou Temple, presiding over preparations, educational affairs and other matters.

With the support of governments at all levels and the Buddhist circles at home and abroad, the Main Hall and the West Wing were completed in August 1987. The newly built Maitreya Hall is located between the Main Hall and the Mountain Gate. It is on the site of the Tianwang Hall that was destroyed by the war before the Anti-Japanese War. It adopts the traditional architectural style of the underground temple with brick and wood structure. The roof of the hall is covered with glazed tiles. In the center of the hall is a statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva with an ever-open smile. Surrounded by thousands of camphor wood Buddhas, it expresses the meaning of "one Buddha is born and is protected by thousands of Buddhas". This is also the unique feature of Xuedou Temple as a Yingle dojo. After that, Xuedou Temple gradually restored other halls and pavilions.

The existing cultural relics of Xuedou Temple include the jade seal given by the emperor in the 23rd year of Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (1897). The seal is inscribed with the following words: "Edict to build Wanshou Xuedou Imperial Book Yingmeng Mingshan Zisheng Zen Temple Dharma King's Treasure Seal", on the left It is carved in Chinese, with seal script on the right. Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty gave him a jade Buddha. It is a seated white marble Buddha, 80 centimeters high, with exquisite carving, white jade and smooth and natural lines. There are still 5,760 copies of the "Long Zang" scriptures given by Emperor Guangxu. Also very precious. In addition, there are dragon bowls, dragon robes, cassocks and other items given by Emperor Guangxu, all of which are extremely exquisite.

Master Guangde, the abbot of Xuedou Temple in Fenghua, Zhejiang, fell ill due to overwork day and night. In order to continue the Buddha's wise life, I respectfully invite Master Yuezhao to be the supervisor and acting abbot of the West Hall. Master Yuezhao entered the temple on February 23, 1993. The bells and drums of Xuedou Temple rang in unison, and the public lined up to welcome him. Master Yuezhao is 27 years old and graduated from Minnan Buddhist College.

After Master Yuezhao entered the temple, he determined to inherit Master Guangde's long-cherished wish to build Xuedou Temple into a dojo for the advancement of learning and practice, a dojo for Buddhist culture and education, and a dojo for connecting Buddhists at home and abroad. In compliance with the Buddhist rules, the Summer Retreat will be held from April 15th to July 15th in the lunar calendar. Master Yuezhao will give lectures on "The Lotus Sutra of Wonderful Dharma" and "Four Points of Bhikkhu Precepts" and practice meditation.

From September 23, 1994 (the 18th day of the eighth lunar month) to September 29, Xuedou Temple solemnly held the opening ceremony of the Maitreya Hall of the Great Merciful Maitreya Buddha and the Thousand Miniature Maitreya Statues. The abbot and master of Zangzhu Mountain started to build a large water and land monastery, which was very prosperous for a while.

In August 1987, Master Guangde, the abbot, presided over the construction of the Main Hall, Maitreya Hall, East and West Wings, and the Abbot Building. After Master Guangde passed away in 1993, Master Yuezhao, currently a director of the Chinese Buddhist Association and president of the Fenghua Buddhist Association, was honored as the abbot of Xuedou Temple and continued to preside over the restoration project. For more than a year, under the auspices of Abbot Yuezhao, the temples such as Shanmen, Tianwang Hall, Sutra Pavilion, Dharma Hall, Bell and Drum Tower, Free Life Pond, Propaganda Building, Vegetarian Restaurant, Bonsai Garden, Master Guangde Pagoda, Shangketang Hotel, etc. Buildings are rising from the ground, and ancient temples are being renovated. At nine o'clock in the morning on the 23rd, two groups of people from Xuedou Temple lined up in the Maitreya Hall. The honor guard welcomed twelve masters including Ming Yang, Miao Zhan, Wudao and Daosheng from the abbot's room to the Hall. There are thousands of Maitreya incarnation statues in the hall with different postures and lifelike shapes. Colorful balls were flying outside the hall, and doves of peace soared. The Dharma ceremony presented a peaceful atmosphere amidst the sound of firecrackers. The four disciples prayed for peace and blessed for happiness. Master Yuezhao, the abbot of Xuedou Temple, delivered a welcome speech. Vice Mayor of Fenghua City, Si Duanlun, delivered a congratulatory speech on behalf of the municipal government. Master Mingyang delivered a speech on behalf of the Buddhist Association of China. Then, the Dharma Assembly was presided over by twelve elders from various mountains, and the large Maitreya Buddha statue and the thousand miniature Maitreya statues were consecrated respectively. The believers were immersed in the joy of Dharma, recited the great praise of Maitreya, and dedicated their lives to the sentient beings in the Dharma Realm. In the afternoon, the construction of a large-scale water, land and air holy fasting Dharma assembly for the Seven Yong Days began. It was divided into eight branches, including the large altar, the inner altar, the Surangama altar, the Pure Land altar, and the Tibetan secret altar. Nearly 200 monks chanted at the altar every day. After repentance, the five great yoga flames were cast in the evening, and the nine great yoga flames were cast when the ceremony was completed. During the Dharma Assembly, the Three Refuges, Five Precepts and Bodhisattva Precepts were conferred, and the life-releasing ceremony was held. In addition, the foundation laying ceremony of the Amitabha Hall and the Medicine Master Hall was also held. There are more than 200 lay people in Taiwan. This is the first water and land ceremony held in Xuedou Temple since the founding of the People's Republic of China.