Kaiyuan Temple, established in 726 AD of the Tang Dynasty, has endured for a millennium, standing tall in the Yue Dong region as the most complete Tang and Song Dynasty ancient monastery. Inside, the graceful eaves and corners of the Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings blend seamlessly with the ancient Buddhist temple, creating a serene atmosphere. The lotus pond in front of the Grand Hall of the Great Hero reflects the shimmering water and copper bells, while the towering Treasure Repository houses valuable scriptures like “Kaiyuan Record of Buddhist Propagation.” The most notable feature is the Song Dynasty stone stele, inscribed with the names of successive abbots of Kaiyuan Temple, including Abbot Shi Mingde of the Yuan Dynasty, who oversaw the temple’s reconstruction. The bell tower houses the “Kaiyuan Great Bell” cast in the Ming Dynasty, whose resonant tones still echo along the Hanjiang River. Each year on the eighth day of the second month of the lunar calendar, the temple hosts the “Chaozhou Eight Counties Buddhist Gathering,” attracting devotees who offer incense and prayers, highlighting the temple’s sacred status in the hearts of the Chao Shan people. As “the First Temple of Lingnan,” Kaiyuan Temple is not only a religious site but also a vital carrier of Chaozhou culture. The temple’s preserved Ming Dynasty “Chaozhou Prefecture Chronicle” handwritten copy recounts the legend of the Tang Dynasty literary master Han Yu lecturing at the temple during his exile to Chaozhou. The wind chimes beneath the eaves of the temple seem to continue telling the timeless Buddhist stories along the Hanjiang River.
