【雲上嶺南】Understand a culture-rich temple: Haichuang Temple 读懂一座“文化的”海幢寺

Recently, “Gathering of Zen Masters and Literati: Lingnan monks’ paintings and calligraphy and Haichuang Temple’s culture and art exhibition” was held at the Guangdong Museum. Lingnan monks oncemadegreat contributions to paintings and calligraphy, cultural exchanges between the East and the West, engravings of scriptures and bonsai art, etc. Because of the special historical opportunity, Haichuang Temple has become an important carrier which shows the outstanding achievements and contributionsmadeby the monks. In the Qing dynasty (1636-1912), many westerners visited Haichuang Temple, which left them with their first impression of Guangzhou city, even of China. In their eyes, Haichuang Temple, as a famous Guangzhou temple, was a symbol of the cultural characteristics of Lingnan. From their writings, we can see that they not only recorded the exquisite and magnificent architecture of Haichuang Temple at that time, but also detailed the monks’ daily life in the temple.

近日，“禅风雅意——岭南寺僧书画暨海幢寺文化艺术展”在广东省博物馆开展。因特殊的历史机缘，海幢寺在岭南僧人的书画创作、东西方文化交流、经籍刻印、盆景艺术等方面的特色都比较突出。在清代，对海幢寺的游历体会，构成了许多西方人对广州、乃至对中国的第一印象。在西方人眼里，海幢寺作为广州名刹，代表着岭南的文化特色，在他们笔下，不仅记录了当时海幢寺精美宏伟的建筑，也细致描绘了僧人们在寺庙里的衣食住行。