Visitors to Donghua Zen Temple in Wengyuan, Guangdong, should not miss the Zhengjue Hall. As one of the temple’s architectural anchors, this must-see attraction captivates with its distinctive design and rich cultural significance.
The Zhengjue Hall’s design harmonizes architectural elements from Wuhan’s Yellow Crane Tower and Jiangxi’s Tengwang Pavilion, presenting elegant solemnity and imposing grandeur. Soaring five stories high, it stands as the tallest structure within Donghua Zen Temple’s complex. According to reports, the hall was originally named Liaochen Pavilion, symbolizing the transcendence of worldly desires. It was later renamed Zhengjue Hall by Venerable Wanxing upon the suggestion of the leadership. The term “Zhengjue” more vividly reflects the Buddha’s profound responsibility and spirit, elevating its spiritual significance.
The Patriotic Figures Hall inside Zhengjue Hall is Donghua Zen Temple’s center for patriotic education and exhibitions. Construction began in 2016 with the aim of promoting the patriotic deeds and spirit of eminent monks and masters in Chinese Buddhist history. It is the temple’s response to President Xi Jinping’s call to bring “four entry points” into religious venues, integrating Buddhist values with core socialist values to facilitate the localization of Buddhism, promote national stability, ethnic unity, social harmony, and world peace, and puts Master Wanxing’s belief “Uphold national identity before religious belief ” into practice.
The Patriotic Figures Hall displays hyper-realistic wax statues of eminent patriotic monks: Master Xuanzang, Venerable Jianzhen, and lay Buddhist leader Zhao Puchu. Overseen by Venerable Wanxing and renowned sculptor Pan Fang, these artworks took six months to complete —with over 50,000 hair strands individually implanted for permanent preservation. The wax figures are fitted with lifelike eyes, their piercing gazes fixed as if the venerable monks and masters are still watching over the world.
Beyond the Zhengjue Hall and Patriotic Figures Hall, Donghua Zen Temple offers many other attractions. The Bao’en Hall lies in the crypt beneath the Luohan Hall, paved with five-colored soil to enshrine ancestral remains. Monks chant sutras here monthly, transferring merits to fulfill devotees’ vows of gratitude. Nearby stands the Golden Lion King Mountain, whose shape resembles a majestic lion roaring with its head held high. Its forested slopes mimic a golden mane, symbolizing that all who emerge from Donghua Zen Temple will benefit the lands—embodying the noble, majestic, and wise bearing of a lion monarch.
The Zhengjue Hall integrates architectural beauty with profound cultural heritage, captivating a growing number of visitors who come to admire its splendor and contemplate its timeless wisdom and spirit. (translator:Jiang Renfeng)