Dongshan Temple — A renowned Lingnan temple that carries on the 'Dongshan School' of Chinese Zen Buddhism

Located in the southern foothills of Longtoushi Mountain, Dongshan Temple of Dapeng, Shenzhen, is situated on the eastern side of Pengcheng Village, Dapeng Town Street Office, Dapeng New District, Shenzhen. Overlooking Daya Bay and nestled between mountains and sea, the temple boasts an exceptionally serene and beautiful landscape, covering an area of 4,000 square meters. It takes only a few minutes to walk to Dongshan Temple from the south gate of the ancient city of Dapeng (approximately over three hundred meters away). Dongshan Temple is a renowned Lingnan temple that carries on the 'Dongshan School' of Chinese Zen Buddhism. It has always been a bustling place of worship and the spiritual center for local residents, as well as a hub of culture. Dongshan Temple has undergone three major renovations. The first renovation took place in the spring of the fourth year of the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty (1854). In 1993, local residents, compatriots from Hong Kong and Macau, and overseas Chinese spontaneously donated more than one million yuan for the second renovation of Dongshan Temple. The third reconstruction was carried out in 2009. After completion, the temple was divided into four sections, with the main axis consisting of the Mountain Gate, the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, and the Sutra Repository Tower. On both sides are the Garan Hall, Patriarch Hall, Merit Hall, and Longevity Hall, complemented by the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Monks' Quarters, Guest Rooms, Guest Hall, Dining Hall, Meditation Hall, and Sixth Patriarch Lecture Hall. Main attractions: ① Mountain Gate: The Mountain Gate is located beside Pengfei Road in front of the temple, facing south with its back to the north, overlooking Dapeng Bay. The gate is a four-pillar, three-bay gatehouse-style structure made of granite, with a total width of 21.80 meters and a height of 16 meters, exuding a majestic aura. The central bay features three arched doors, with square stone pillars and carved eaves with hooks and drips. The front horizontal plaque reading 'Dongshan Temple' was inscribed by Master Chuanzheng, with couplets on both sides saying: 'East of the city, west of the residence, walk straight with a calm heart, a thousand volumes in one tower are treasures; the mountain's mood and water's color, the true scripture of self-nature, a spoonful tastes of the four seas.' ② Hall of Heavenly Kings: The Hall of Heavenly Kings is built in the style of ancient Ming and Qing architecture. The couplets in front of the hall read: 'Fruit comes from cause, cause leads to fruit, having fruit means having cause, what cause you plant, such fruit you'll reap; the mind is Buddha, Buddha is the mind, to seek Buddha, first seek the mind.' The couplets inside the hall read: 'Day by day carrying an empty bag, little rice, no money, yet remains a big belly and wide intestines, not knowing the faith of the many devotees, with what shall they offer sustenance; year by year sitting at the cold mountain gate, waiting for Zhang and Li, always seeing them joyous and delighted, please tell, what is the reason for this monk's contentment?' The four great Heavenly Kings on both sides maintain the sculptural art style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with spirited and valiant appearances. Behind the Maitreya statue is the Dharma-protecting Bodhisattva Skanda. ③ Mahavira Hall: The main hall has five bays and a double-eaved pure wooden structure, entirely made of Burmese imported padauk wood, using pure wooden mortise and tenon joints. The roof is covered with Yixing purple clay tiles from Jiangsu, and the green bricks on the walls were specially ordered from Ganzhou, Jiangxi. The hall hangs a couplet written by Master Chuanzheng: 'The water and sky blend as one, in the depths of the tidal sound lies a profound mystery, what is your true face, the Dharma is vast, the bell tolls far and wide, without past or present, realize and forget oneself, the wondrous awakened heart.' Inside the hall, the Three Tathagatas are enshrined (in the center is Sakyamuni Tathagata, to the left is the Medicine Buddha of the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli Light, and to the right is Amitabha Buddha of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss). On the sides of the hall, five hundred clay arhats, modeled after those in Nanhua Zen Temple in Shaoguan, are made of Chaozhou pottery clay and crafted by hand.