Yunmen Temple (Guangdong)

History

Tang dynasty

This temple was first built by an accomplished monk Chan master Yunmen Wenyan in 923 during the late Tang dynasty (618–907). After the fall of the Tang dynasty, Yunmen Temple declined and was incredibly disappeared during the Republic of China.

Republic of China

In 1943, master Hsu Yun came to Yunmen Temple to promulgate Buddhist doctrines. Under his leadership, more than 300 buildings and halls and 100 statues of Buddha were added to the temple. Renovations and rebuilding to the temple began in 1943 and was completed in 1951.

People's Republic of China

After the establishment of the Communist State, Foyuan (佛源), a disciple of Hsu Yun, succeeded the position of abbot.

In 1966, Mao Zedong launched the Cultural Revolution, Yunmen Temple was badly damaged in this ten-year movement.

After the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, according to the national policy of free religious belief, regular scripture lectures, meditation and other features of temple life were resumed in 1983. That same year, Yunmen Temple was designated as a National Key Buddhist Temple in Han Chinese Area by the State Council of China.