Macau Merit Lin and "Her" World Memory
2023-07-14
Although Macau is small, it has a profound historical heritage. Cultural heritage and historical sites of all sizes record the past of Macau and also witness its development. Recently, the "Archives and Manuscripts of Macau Gongdelin Temple (1645-1980)" was successfully selected for the "World Memory List", highlighting Macau's profound cultural heritage in the international community. This batch of cultural heritage includes more than 6000 precious documents such as ancient books, manuscripts, letters from celebrities, calligraphy and painting, old photos, Palm-leaf manuscript, etc., mainly from the early Qing Dynasty to the middle of the 20th century, but also a small number of ancient books in the late Ming Dynasty. The literary heritage of Gong De Lin confirms the world significance of Macau in enhancing the status of women, promoting the Sinicization of Buddhism, and promoting the development of human civilization. ▲ Macao Wuliang Shougongdelin strolls along the not spacious San Bazai Street in Macau, reaching the junction with the three story street. A temple with an inconspicuous appearance suddenly enters the view - this is Wuliang Shougongdelin (hereinafter referred to as Gongdelin). Under the "overlook" of the surrounding buildings, Gong Delin appeared cramped and humble. Fingertips brushed against the yellow mud wall, pushed open the partially closed door, crossed the threshold of the temple, and the cool world shrouded in Sanskrit sounds and shrouded in cloud fragrance suddenly unfolded like a scroll. A period of ups and downs of history met us unexpectedly. Preparation and Creation: Zen Pure Double Cultivation and the Pursuit of "Gender Equality" have always been referred to as the "Three Great Jungles" in the Buddhist community of Macau, respectively referring to the Ma Ge Temple, Guanyin Hall, and Lian Feng Zen Academy. Compared to these three famous temples, Gongdelin lacks magnificent buildings, a long history that can be traced back hundreds of years, and bustling visitors and thriving incense. But this small temple has irreplaceable historical significance and cultural value, and the story should be told from the beginning of the creation of Gongdelin. Master Guanben is one of the key figures in creating the Merit Forest. Master Guan Ben, formerly known as Zhang Shoubo, was born in Nanping Township, Xiangshan County, Guangdong Province in the seventh year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1868). In his youth, he made friends with Liang Qichao and other reformers, and participated in the "Gongche Shangshu movement" and "Hundred Day Reform". After the failure of the reform, Zhang Shoubo studied abroad in Japan with his family. Years later, he returned to China and was enthusiastic about industry, but suffered slight setbacks. In 1914, Zhang Shoubo was fortunate enough to meet Master Yekai from Tianning Temple in Changzhou at the Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai. He converted to his sect and became a Buddhist monk, devoting himself to the Pure Land Dharma, with the Dharma name Guanben. In 1915, Guan Ben led his family to Macau to cultivate the "Pure Land" for his mother and others, and established the Zhang family Buddhist chanting site - the predecessor of Gong De Lin. The creation of this temple is recorded in the "Record of the Creation of Gongdelin Wooden Plate", "Qujiang Zhang Clan Genealogy", and other archives collected by Gongdelin. In 1923, the founders of the Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company, Jian Zhaonan, Jian Yujie, and others who were related by marriage to the Kanben family, invested in the purchase of No. 13 Sanbazi Street and No. 14 Shangjie Street on the third floor, and expanded the Zhang's Buddhist chanting site into a place for women to practice and named it "Wuliang Shou Gong Delin", initiating the creation of Gong Delin. In 1925, Gongdelin, which was under construction, was converted into a charity convent and hung with the "Linji Bell Board". The "Linji Bell Plate" has enabled this temple, which originally aimed to recite Buddhist teachings in the Pure Land, to acquire the blood of Zen Buddhism's Linji. From then on, the tradition of Zen and Pure Practice has been continuously passed down in this temple
Edit：XiaoWanNing Responsible editor：YingLing
Source：China Ethnic News
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