Bright
Filial Piety Temple
 Bright
Filial Piety Temple on Guangxiao Road is
one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Guangzhou
and was the mansion of Prince Zhao Jiande
of the Nanyue Kingdom during the Western
Han dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D.24).
Bright Filial Piety Temple was
first built by an Indian monk during the
Eastern Jin dynasty (317- 420) and the present
temple, occupying an area of 31000 square
meters, was rebuilt it the Qing dynasty
(1644 - 1911). It enjoys great reputation
in Buddhist history because Huineng of the
Zen Buddhist sect was a novice monk here
in the 7th century.
 The
Sixth Ancestor Hall in the temple was built
in memory of Huineng, the sixth master of
the Zen Sect of Buddhism, who was also the
most influential monk in the history of
Chinese Buddhism.
In the temple there is also
a pagoda where Huineng's hair was buried.
Other ancient structures in the temple include
Sakyamuni Hall, Samgharama Hall, the King
of Heaven Hall, and two iron towers.
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