Kaiyuan Temple (Chaozhou)
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| Kaiyuan Temple | |
|---|---|
开元寺 | |
 The Shanmen at Kaiyuan Temple. | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Buddhism |
| Sect | Linji school |
| Location | |
| Location | Xiangqiao District, Chaozhou, Guangdong |
| Country | China |
  Shown within Guangdong  Kaiyuan Temple (Chaozhou) (China) | |
| Coordinates | 23°40′11″N 116°39′20″E / 23.669656°N 116.655504°E |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Chinese architecture |
| Founder | Emperor Xuanzong |
| Established | 738 |
Kaiyuan Temple (simplified Chinese: 开元寺; traditional Chinese: 開元寺; pinyin: Kāiyuán Sì) is a Buddhist temple located in Xiangqiao District of Chaozhou, Guangdong, China.
After Emperor Xuanzong ascended the throne in 713, he issued an edict establishing Kaiyuan Temples, named after his reign title Kaiyuan (開元), in prefectures throughout the Tang Empire (618–907).[1] Over the centuries, through the rise and fall of the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, many of the existing structures at Kaiyuan Temple have retained their original appearance. Several of these buildings are now recognized as national treasures.
Kaiyuan temple was first established in 738, in the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang dynasty (618–907) with the original name of "Lifeng Temple" (荔峰寺). The name was changed to "Kaiyuan Wanshou Chan Temple" (开元万寿禅寺) during the Yuan dynasty (1172–1638). And then it was renamed "Kaiyuan Zhenguo Chan Temple" (开元镇国禅寺) in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). During the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), people usually called it "Kaiyuan Temple" (开元寺) which is still use now.[2]
In 1950, Buddhist monk Chunxin (纯信) was elected as the new abbot of the temple. Under his leadership, the temple was refurbished and redecorated. In 1962, Kaiyuan Temple was categorized as a provincial level key cultural heritage by the Guangdong Provincial Government. During the ten years devastating Cultural Revolution, the resident monks were being to disrobe and return to secular life, the abbot died in countryside.
After the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, according to the national policy of free religious belief, Buddhist monk Huiyuan (慧原) was unanimously chosen as abbot of the temple. He headed the reconstruction project. The reconstruction of the project lasted six years. In 1983, Kaiyuan Temple was classified as a National Key Buddhist Temple in Han Chinese Area.[1]
In 1991, Buddhist monk Dingran (定然) was elected as abbot. During his term in the position, Thai Chinese, Upasika Xie Huiru (谢慧如) donated property to establish a Thailand style Buddhist Hall known as "Taifo Hall" (开元寺泰佛殿 with a Buddha image of Maravijaya attitude enshrined in the hall.[1]
On June 25, 2001, Kaiyuan Temple was listed among the fifth group of "Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Guangdong" by the State Council of China.[3]
