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Information on the China Vietnam Zen Origins Tour
This is a private China tour organized on behalf of a private group with limited spaces available. You must have pre-approval to participate in this tour. Contact Doan-Trang Tran at doantrangtran@gmail.com for detailed information and pre-registration. This tour will visit important sites related to the origins of Vietnam Zen in China, including Dharma seats of Bodhiharma, the Sixth Ancestor Huineng, Baizhang, The Third Ancestor Sengcan, The Fourth Ancestor Daoxin, and others.
Basic Tour Information
Tour Itinerary, Dates are Oct 2010
9) Arrive Guangzhou, overnight Guangzhou hotel. Welcoming dinner for arrivals at vegetarian restaurant.
10) Visit Hualin Temples and Guangxiao Temples (Bodhidharma and Sixth Ancestor Temples), coach to Nanhua, overnight Nanhua
Hualin Temple is the traditional temple where Bodhidharma began to teach in China. It is located near the Pearl River where Bodhdharma first got off the ship from South India. The temple now honors Bodhidarma in a center hall where a big bronze statue of Bodhidharma sits. The temple also has a 500 Arhat Hall where five hundred life-size statues of arhats are venerated. Near the temple, on a pedestrian street in the direction of the Pearl River is a paifang (large stone gate) with the words First Arriving Place from the West. It is regarded as the first place where Bodhidharma came ashore. Also, near that place are the Five Eyes Springs. According to tradition, Bodhidharma found the first spring at that spot when he pointed to the ground and said, There is treasure there.Some people thought he meant real treasure, so they dug there but instead only found pure, clear water. That was very unusual because the area near the river was only brackish water, so this was regarded as a sort of miracle. The spring was used continuously from ancient times until 1953,when people there go running water in their houses.
Guangxiao Temple
Guangxiao Temple is the traditional place where the Sixth Ancestor Huineng took tonsure and became a monk. After he received the robe and bowl of succession from the Fifth Ancestor, Hongren, at the Fifth Ancestors Temple, he hid for many years. Later, he came to Guangxiao Temple and witnessed the abbot giving a sermon. The wind was blowing, so there was an argument about whether the wind was moving or the flag was moving. The abbot asked Huineng what he thought and he said, Your mind is moving. The abbot knew Huineng was genuine, and so then Huineng took the precepts under a big Bodhi Tree that was previously planted at the temple by a monk from India. How, the descendant of the same Bodhi Tree is still there and also a pagoda that contains Huinengs hair from when he became a monk. Also, according to tradition, Bodhidharma stayed at this temple and there is a well with the name bowl washing well where he washed his bowl there.
11) Nanhua Temple (Sixth Ancestor)
Nanhua Temple is located in Shaoguan City, about four hours north of Guangzhou by bus. It is the Dharma seat where the Sixth Ancestor lived and taught. There we will stay at the new Temple guest house and venerate the Sixth Ancestors True Body, the actual body of the Sixth Ancestor that remains on display at the temple. Also, there is a big shrine to another famous Chinese monk, namely Empty Cloud, who lived from the years 1842 until 1959. He is the most famous modern Buddhist monk in China and is widely venerated in that country. Empty Cloud is very important because he revived many schools of Chan Buddhism and did much to rebuild many temples.
12) Nanhua Temple, travel to Yunmen Temple. Overnight Yunmen Temple.
Yunmen Temple is the Dharma seat where great Chan Master Yunmen lived and taught. He started the Yunmen School of Chan. Unfortunately, his True Body was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in China, but now this monastery, set next to a scenic mountain, has many monks and a Chan study academy. It also has a monument to Empty Cloud who helped rebuild the monastery in modern times. This is a very important monastery for both ancient and modern reasons.
13) Yunmen Temple Continued Visit.
14) Coach to Ji An City, Visit Qingyuan Temple. Overnight at Qingyuan Temple if possible or Ji An City hotel.
Qingyuan Temple is the Dharma seat of one of Huinengs main disciples, named Qingyuan Xingsi. He was the Dharma ancestor of many important Chan schools, such as the Dongshan School, the Fayan School, and the Yunmen School of Chinese Chan. The teachers most famous direct student was Shitou, who later taught the Hunan Zen school. This Zen school, along with the Hongzhou School of Mazu Daoyi, was one of the two most famous schools of Zen during the eighth century. This temple is in a quiet place a few miles from the city of Ji An in lower Jiangxi Province.
15) Coach to Baizhang Temple via Nanchang. Ovenight Baizhang.
Baizhang Temple was the Dharma Seat of Baizhang Huaihai 9720-814. He was a student of Mazu Daoyi and is a very famous and important figure in the Zen tradition. His monastery is now rebuilt on Great Hero Mountain, a pretty and scenic area in the mountains of Jiangxi Province. Baizhang famously created the Pure Rules for living in a Zen monastery. Also, he taught many disciples, among whom were students who then traveled and spread the Rinzai tradition to Vietnam. He is also famous for the Baizhangs Fox story. Baizhangs Pure Rules for the monastery became the basis for later rules for all Chan monasteries.
16) Baizhang, overnight Baizhang.
17) Baizhang, Day trip to Huangbo and Dongshan, overnight Baizhang.
We will take a side trip from Baizhangs temple to visit the Dharma seat of Huangbo Xiyun (d. 850.) He was Baizhangs senior disciple and the teacher of Linji (Rinzai). He famously taught a doctrine called the Essentials of Mind that is very important. There are many famous stories about Huangbo, such as one in which he crossed a river with another monk. When that monk walked on top of the water Huangbo criticized him for not following the Mahayana path (one should walk in the water like ordinary people).
Dongshan Temple was the Dharma seat of Dongshan Liangjie, the founder of the Caodong Chan School. He temple is in a mountain clearing near a creek called Dong Creek. Originally, when Dongshan crossed the creek he saw his reflection in the water and was enlightened. Now we can visit the place where he crossed the creek and also visit his ancient stupa behind the temple.
18) Baizhang, coach to Baofeng (Chan Master Mazu), coach to Fourth Ancestors temple at Huangmei. Overnight at the Fourth Ancestors temple.
Baofeng was the main Dharma seat of Chan Master Mazu Daoyi (Horse Master). He was a very important teacher who was famous for saying Mind is Buddha.His monastery at Baofeng is a big and active monastery where many monks live. There they practice koans, like Who is Chanting Buddha Name? The burial stupa of Mazu is there. The Fourth Ancestors Temple is a big active monastery where we will stay. It is located in a quiet mountain valley under Broken Top Mountain about fifteen miles from Huangmei (Yellow Plum) City. At this place the Fourth Ancestor Daoxin established the first Chan monastery in China in the Bodhidarma lineage. Daoxin, along with his famous disciple Hongren (The Fifth Ancestor) established the East Mountain School of Chan Buddhism. Therefore this was the place where Chan really became famous in China. However, the Fourth Ancestor didn�t want Chan to be corrupted by contact with the Chinese court, and he famously refused to visit the capital city even though the emperor commanded him to do so. Also, the Fourth Ancestor Daoxin emphasized the Lankavatara Sutra and the practice of observing mind as taught by Bohidharma. He also used some sutras and so these became more popular in the Chan tradition.
19) Sizu, trip to Wuzu (Fifth Ancestor), overnight at Fourth Ancestors Temple.
The Fifth Ancestor (Hongren Temple is located about twenty miles east of the Fourth Ancestors Temple. Hongren had many famous disciples, especially Huineng, the Sixth Ancestor. At this temple was the famous poetry contest between Huineng and Shenxiu that resulted in the passing of the robe and bowl of succession to Huineng as described in my book. Also, this is where Shenxiu studied under Hongren. Shenxiu was the main patriarch of the Northern School and he famously was the Teacher of Three Emperors. Another of Hongren students, named Faru, went north and became abbot of Shaolin Temple.
20) Coach to Sanzu (Third Ancestors Temple), evening return to Fourth Ancestors Temple.
Today we will take a side trip to the Third Ancestors temple near Tianzhu Mountain. The third ancestor taught here after receiving Dharma transmission from the Second Ancestor Huike. Here we can see the cave where he experienced enlightenment and also where he taught and died. There is a very old pagoda here dating originally from the Tang Dynasty. Also, at this temple the Third Ancestor Sengcan taught Vinitarucci, a South Asian monk who then traveled to Vietnam and established Bodhidharma Zen in that country. Therefore this place has special significance for the Vietnamese Zen tradition.
21) Travel to Nanchang, overnight Nanchang.
On this day we stay at Fourth Ancestors temple in the morning for meditation and services. After some free time for hiking and exploring nearby places we will travel to Nanchang city to spend the night and catch the train early the next day.
22) Take train D92 to Shanghai leaving 8:15AM ( first class seats).Arrive shanghai at 1:45PM. Overnight Shanghai.
After arrival in Shanghai we will go to hotel and rest. Then people will have free time to relax and go shopping, also explore the Shanghai city. We will also visit the Bund, the most famous landmark of Shanghai on the Huangpu River.
23) Visit Jade Buddha Temple and Yu Garden. Shopping
ON this day we will visit the Jade Buddha Temple and see the famous and beautiful Jade Buddha that was brought from Burma by the famous Chinese monk Empty Cloud who I mentioned before. We will also visit the traditional Yu Garden, a classical Chinese Garden. The Yu Garden is located next to the old town shopping area, so after the Yu Garden people can go shopping there
24) Transfer to airport to fly home.