Stamps of China: Nanhua Temple Issue (2013)

Nanhua Temple is situated in the Qujiang District of Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province. With a history dating back to 502, the first year of the Tianjian era of Emperor Wu of the Liang during the Southern Dynasties, it used to be where Master Huineng (638-713), the Sixth Patriarch of Zen (Chan) Buddhism,
gave dharma lectures to promote the religion, thus reputed as the ancestral home of the Southern School of Zen. Originally known as Baolin Temple, the Buddhist sanctuary was renamed Nanhua Zen Temple in 968 by Emperor Taizu (927-976) of the Song Dynasty. Caoxi Gate, the original entrance to the temple, was first built as a brick-and-wood structure and later reconstructed with reinforced concrete. It features double eaves and a gable-and-hip roof covered by green glazed tiles. Two huge sculptures of door gods stand in front of the gate, guarding the temple in an awe-inspiring manner.
Source: Chinese Post
published October 27th, 2013