The master of Guiling Temple is truly a master of landscaping

Fuan is very interesting, on one side there is a strong sense of human life, and on the other side, it is the county with the most monks in the country. There are more than a hundred temples in 18 towns. It seems that the imperial edict of Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty, 'Bestow five blessings to bring peace to the county,' is well recognized by the masters. Although I found many temples interesting, time was limited, so I only visited Guiling Temple, which is the favorite of Buddhist youths. It is indeed quite special. People say it is full of wabi-sabi style, but I think it is more of a Zen simplicity. Beauty in imperfection, simplicity in the grand scheme, the light and texture of time hidden in the ruins, yet more lively and dynamic than the extreme desolation beauty advocated by wabi-sabi. The master who designed this place must have seen all the beauty in the world and found peace in a grain of sand, experiencing the changing seasons and finding beauty all around. In the small courtyard of the temple, one can listen to the wind and rain, observe the sun, moon, and stars, and contemplate the truths they wish to understand. It started raining just as I arrived at the temple. I saw the master diligently cleaning, and I didn't want to disturb him, so I wandered around the outskirts. I found that every small scene here was designed, with good calligraphy everywhere, and the decorations were all natural and simple handmade items. Perhaps it is meant to convey that each small item made from 'scraps' contains the principle of everything from nothing? The most interesting are the various stone Buddha towers, each with an introduction and explanation, like a small Buddha tower exhibition park. Just seeing this made the drive up the mountain worthwhile. Although the current Guiling Temple is new, it is said to have traceable origins. Guiling Temple is in Guiling Village, which had inhabitants even before the Tang Dynasty. It became a village during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of the Tang Dynasty and was once an official post road and important material distribution center from Fuan to Shouning, known as 'Wharf City.' Later, because the shape of Xiufeng Mountain outside the village resembled a giant turtle, it was renamed Guiling Village. The village has a temple originally named Qinyuan Temple, built during the Xiantong period of the Tang Dynasty. It was later renamed Guiling Temple along with the village. Although the ancient relics are no longer traceable, the historical inheritance still holds its significance. During the Qingyuan period of the Song Dynasty, Zhu Xi once came to Guiling Temple to give lectures, making the temple famous. Today, the remnants of the Tang and Song styles in Guiling Temple are probably the best interpretation of its history. tips: Transportation is inconvenient, suitable for self-driving. You can park at the village entrance. The temple does not require an entrance fee, and there is a tea room and vegetarian meals available.