Xiqiao Mountain is located in Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province. It is a tourist attraction with the theme of Buddhist culture. Here, tourists can appreciate the charm of Buddhist culture, appreciate the beautiful natural scenery, and feel the rich historical atmosphere. Among them, the most representative one is Xiqiao Mountain Guanyin. So when was Xiqiao Mountain Guanyin built? Below, let’s take a closer look.

1. Historical background

Xiqiao Mountain Guanyin is a Buddhist temple built during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. Before the construction of this temple, Buddhist culture already existed on Xiqiao Mountain. According to historical records, there were Buddhist temples in Xiqiao Mountain as early as the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and the construction of these temples was mainly completed spontaneously by monks and believers at that time. During the Tang Dynasty, the Buddhist culture in Xiqiao Mountain reached a peak and became one of the centers of Buddhism in Guangdong at that time. However, due to historical reasons, the Buddhist culture in Xiqiao Mountain gradually declined during the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties. It was not until the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty that the Guanyin in Xiqiao Mountain was built.

2. Construction time

The construction time of Xiqiao Mountain Guanyin can be traced back to the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, and the specific time was around the 20th year of Jiajing (1541). At that time, Buddhist believers on Xiqiao Mountain decided to build a Guanyin Temple on the mountain in memory of Guanyin Bodhisattva. During the construction process, they deliberately selected a geomantic treasure place, which is where the Guanyin Temple in Xiqiao Mountain is now located. The site is steep and majestic, making it ideal for building a Buddhist temple. As a result, Buddhist believers began the construction work, which lasted several years. Finally, in the 26th year of Jiajing (1547), the current Xiqiao Mountain Guanyin was built.

3. Construction process

The construction process of Xiqiao Mountain Guanyin was very difficult. Due to the rugged terrain and poor construction conditions, construction work progressed slowly and was often affected by natural disasters. In order to ensure the smooth progress of the project, Buddhist believers continued to raise funds and organize labor, and finally completed this magnificent project. During the construction process, Buddhist believers also specially invited some famous craftsmen and painters, who carefully designed every detail of the temple, making the entire temple full of artistic atmosphere.

4. Temple Characteristics

Xiqiao Mountain Guanyin Temple is a temple integrating Buddhist culture, art culture and natural scenery. The main building of the temple is a 62-meter-high Guanyin Tower. The tower body is composed of nine floors, each of which has different Buddhist cultural significance. In the temple, there is also a large-scale Mahavira Hall, which houses Buddhist statues and scriptures. It is an important place for Buddhist believers to worship. In addition, the temple also has some attractions, such as Avalokitesvara with Thousand Arms and Thousand Eyes, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, etc. These attractions have a strong Buddhist cultural atmosphere and attract many tourists to visit.

In short, Xiqiao Mountain Guanyin is a temple with a long history and rich cultural heritage.A profound Buddhist temple, its construction can be traced back to the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty and took several years to complete. There are many attractions in the temple, attracting many tourists to visit and appreciate the charm of Buddhist culture. If you are interested in Buddhist culture, you may wish to visit Xiqiao Mountain Guanyin Temple and feel its unique charm.