[VOL III] GREAT TEMPLE AT HONAN

GREAT TEMPLE AT HONAN

Cover Image: Great Temple at Honan, Canton / GuangZhou GuangDong China / Drawn by T. Allom Engraved by A.Willmore – ALAMY Image ID:2WXT7TP

*The Great Temple at Honan（Hai Zhuang Temple）is an ancient Buddhist temple. This temple was originally built during the Southern Song Dynasty and has undergone several repairs and reconstructions, preserving a rich historical and cultural heritage. Hai Zhuang Temple in Guangzhou is renowned for its magnificent architecture and tranquil temple surroundings, attracting many Buddhist believers and tourists to visit. This temple is one of the significant cultural and religious sites in Guangzhou.

“But O, how vile an idol proves this god!” …

TWELFTH NIGHT.

THIS is the most famous temple of Buddhism in southern China, and, as its follies and idolatries have been witnessed by many Europeans, the authenticity of the illustration, notwithstanding its extravagant character, will encounter less disbelief. In a vast edifice of wood, and paint, and paper, decorated with countless figures, emblematical of some good or evil passion of the heart; hung with pictures, miserably executed, yet sufficiently intelligible, representing the trial, and condemnation, and punishments of sinners in the lower world, while no effort is made to express the pleasures of Paradise,—adorned also with gaudy ribbons, splendid china jars, and various inexplicable ornaments—the three great idols of Honan are enthroned.

A dais is placed beneath a minor temple or portico, supported by wooden pillars, painted red, and richly gilded; allegorical images of the past, present, and future, upwards of ten feet in height, are seated within it, and shining in golden majesty; they strike simply by magnitude, for there is nothing commanding, interesting, or terrifying in their aspect. Heen-tsae-foh, (the present,) occupies the centre; Kwo-kue-foh, (the past,) is on his right; and We-lae-foh, (the future,) on his left. These constitute the Triad, or three precious Buddhas, an ancient object of adoration amongst the Chinese. Before each colossus stands an altar loaded with offerings, and furnished with cups, jars, vases, and vessels for holding joss-sticks, and incense, and flowers, and perfume. Tinfoil is employed in profusion; pastiles are continually emitting fragrance; and the flame of an ever-burning lamp represents the inextinguishable nature of Buddhas’ rule over mankind. A tablet above the idols’ throne is inscribed with Chinese characters that may be interpreted, “The great, powerful, and precious palace.”

The most remarkable features, both of Honan temple, and the creed to which it is devoted, having been amply detailed in the preceding pages, (* Vol. I., p. 20, 37, 66, 68. Vol. II., p. 48, 52.)it will be sufficient to add in this place those reflections only which present themselves with peculiar obviousness. Similarity between the ceremonies, of the early Christian church of Europe, and the Buddhists temple of China, is so remarkable, that none can be so hardy as to deny it; and the parallels that may be instituted between the precepts of Christianity and those of Buddhism, afford encouragement to missionary enterprise. In the moral works of Confucius (Isaiah), there is a passage, plainly declaring, that an individual was to arise in the West, uniting in his person the offices of king, priest, and prophet, (Christ,); that he should be attended by a female, whom the Chinese call “the mother of heaven,” (the Virgin Mary); that at the age of twelve years he should withdraw from public life, but return again afterwards, and preach the metempsychosis, (the Resurrection from the dead); that having founded his religion he was to be transformed, (the Ascension,) into the god Fo, one person but three forms, (the Trinity); and this is the Triad, now represented by the three golden Buddhas. It would not be difficult to pursue the analogy further.

---