Buddhism | Nanshan Guanyin Statue!

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Nanshan Buddhism Cultural Park is located at the central southern coastal area of Sanya Prefecture, coloured in yellow in the map, above... drs2biz.

"Guanyin Statue" on Flickr, by: drs2biz

This holy Guanyin statue with "three figures in one", standing 108 metres tall in the South China Sea, is known as the "No 1 statue project in China as well as the world". The three figures stand separately for the trinity of "peace, wisdom and mercy". This project took six years to complete and had a grand Buddhist opening ceremony on April 24th, 2005.

Nanshan Buddhism Park Temple on Flickr by: drs2biz

Nanshan Temple is the core of Buddhism Park. It is the largest Buddhist Temple built under the approval of the Central Government since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Zhao Puchu, the late great master of Buddhism, selected the temple site himself and autographed it with "Nanshan Temple", "Sea and Mountain Monastery" etc.

Other amenities include Yuantong Palace, where 99,999 Guanyin sculptures are displayed, a 280 metre long causeway named Puji that spans the sea and the statue base and a square for worshipping that can accommodate 60,000 people. Lianyue Lake and Zhiyue Lake, two themed lakes featuring various artistic scenes, are complemented by Miaojin Grove, where thousands of banyan trees are planted. Asia's exclusive night lighting system, "Rays of Buddha", provide illumination after dusk. The sandy dam scenes include classics of the 2,000 year long Buddhist culture of China, and the horticultural art work is renowned world-wide.

This is an area of natural tranquillity that is augmented by a design allowing interaction between tourist and landscape. It introduces a diverse theme of cultural activities such as a Zen tea break, a vegetarian gourmet experience, hugging Buddha's feet, releasing lotus lights, releasing lives at the South China Sea etc, all further enhancing the significance of the culture of Guanyin.

Here visitors will enjoy the heartfelt peace bestowed by the Guanyin culture amid charming scenes and the harmonious eco-environment. You will be drawn back to Nanshan Buddhist Park for a further visit.

The Dharma Door of Non-duality, on Flickr by: drs2biz

A Dharma-door is an entrance to the Dharma, a teaching about a way or method of practice leading to enlightenment. The heavenly existence in the Dharma Realm of Form is 84,000 great kalpas (84,000 x 1.28 trillion years). Among those, the Dharma-Door of Non-duality (Non-dualism implies that things appear distinct while not being separate. The word's origin is the Latin duo meaning "two" and is used as the English translation of the Sanskrit term advaita. The term can refer to a belief, condition, theory, practice, or quality - Wikipedia.) is considered as the last one at the highest state. Only by entering this door, may one elucidate the teaching of the entrance into the principle of Non-duality and attain the enlightenment of Nirvana of tolerance of the birthlessness of things and beings. With this principle, "Harmony With Original Nature", can be more clearly specified as the essence of Non-duality, non-discrimination, and no self, as no attachment in harmony with Original Nature.

In Chapter 9 of the holy teaching of the Vimalakirti Sutra, the crown prince Manjushri asked the Licchavi Vimalakirti: "We have all given our own teachings, noble sir. Now, may you elucidate the teaching of the entrance into the principle of Non-duality?" Thereupon, the Licchavi Vimalakirti kept his silence, saying nothing at all. The crown prince Manjushri applauded the Licchavi Vimalakirti: "Excellent! Excellent!, noble sir! This is indeed the entrance into the Non-duality of the bodhisattvas. Here there is no use for syllables, sounds and ideas." The expression of the teaching was even more condensed but it was needed to practice vigorously the concentration of the mind on the point of Zen.

The Nanshan Dharma-Door of Non-duality is the scenic entrance of the park designed with a North-South Song Dynasty style (960-1127 AD) . Through this Door lies a peaceful and auspicious Buddhist spiritual place in Nanshan. The characters "Non-duality" outside and above the door and "Oneness" inside and above were written by Mr. Gu Ting Long, the late well-known calligrapher in his 94th year. "Oneness" is a homologue (corresponding or similar in position, value, structure, or function) of "Non-duality".

Gold and Jade Avalokitesvara Statue on Flickr by: drs2biz

This gold and jade statue of Guanyin stands 3.8 metres high and has more than 100 kilograms of gold and silver covering it. It is also studded with 120 carats of South African diamonds, as well as a multitude of assorted precious stones.

Since this statue was delivered to Nanshan in 1998, it has received millions of Buddhists from all over the world to worship and pay their most pious tribute. Accordingly, Hainan people regard this Avalokitesvara as the "Island Treasure" with great pride.

It is the first enshrined Buddha after the inauguration of the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone in 1998, and was confirmed in the same year, by Guinness World Book of Records, as the largest gold and jade statue of Buddha in the world.

DuaJi ZhaXi, "living Buddha", filled a relic of Sakyamuni into the statue as a spiritual blessing.

This ink-stone, carved in the form of a dragon and a phoenix, is registered in the Guinness Book of World Records as being the largest in the world and weighs 36 tonnes.

Nanshan Buddhism Park Longevity Tortoises on Flickr by: drs2biz

It is recorded in Yazhou Annals: When a man came into South Aoshan to lop brambles, the mountain was covered in a thick fog. He saw four tortoises drinking by a gully, and one of them fell into the gully and could not get out. The man helped the tortoise out and received a "pellet" in return! When the fog cleared, the four tortoises turned into four long-bearded old men, who rose into the clouds and flew away!

The man, who was happy to meet the longevity tortoises, took the pellet and returned to his village with the brambles. His family was surprised and told him it had been months since the time he left. He lived a long life of 360 years, and died without experiencing any serious illness!

The four longevity tortoises statue was built to commemorate this legend at the lunar calendar time of 09-09-1999.

Nanshan Buddhism Park Eco-friendly Electric Transportation on Flickr by: drs2biz

There are 50 battery-powered eco-tour buses in the park. Purchasing a ticket allows the user to board any of these buses. Every scenic spot has a bus stop. Guests can access each spot by boarding one of these buses or choosing a more convenient method of transport in a chartered touring car. Nanshan Villas offer a bicycle rental service for both individual and family tours.

Nanshan Buddhism Park - Yu's Clay Sculptures, "He He" and "Mei Mei" on Flickr by: drs2biz

The chief of the workshop is Ms. Yu Xiang Lian, a great master of Chinese national arts and crafts, who was born into a well-known family of Chinese traditional clay sculptors and has been edified by the sculpture art from her childhood. Her clay figurines are characterised with vivid simplicity and unique artistic exaggeration. The representative work of Nanshan Yu's Clay Sculpture Workshop is a couple of lovely clay dolls named "He He" and "Mei Mei", standing for "Peace" and "Happiness".