The garden style of Haichuang Temple, in a sense, reflects the aesthetics, feelings, and aspirations of generations of Zen masters. The layout of the temple garden is imbued with Zen charm, elegance, and integrity. There is a garden within the temple, and the garden itself is the temple.

The Haizhuang Temple in Guangzhou is the first temple in China to open to the public during the Qing Dynasty. It has appeared multiple times in the travelogues of Westerners and in the export paintings of the time, becoming a window for early Westerners to understand China. Why did this temple attract attention both domestically and internationally? Why did the British Library specially collect a series of paintings related to Haizhuang Temple? Why did Andersen, who had never been to China, mention this ancient Eastern temple?

Guangzhou Buddhist Association Vice President and Abbot of Guangzhou Haichuang Temple, Venerable Guangxiu, along with the Hall Master of Haichuang Temple, Venerable Guangze, recently interpreted this in an interview with China News Service's "East-West Question" and discussed how to excavate the historical and cultural resources of Haichuang Temple to contribute to the construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative.

Reporter from China News Service: During the trading period of the "Thirteen Factories" in Guangzhou during the Qing Dynasty, why was the Haichuang Temple in Guangzhou one of the few local attractions open to foreigners?

Shi Guangze: The ancients had the saying "officials do not renovate their offices," so the government offices of that time were not very suitable for major events. Large ancient temples, on the other hand, had multiple functions, serving as centers of education and culture, economic hubs, and places of ritual.

The Haichuang Temple, built in the late Ming Dynasty, has a long history. During the late Ming Dynasty, many scholar-officials became monks at Haichuang Temple, earning respect and trust from society with their unique status and knowledge. According to the inscriptions on the copper bell in the main hall of Haichuang Temple, dignitaries including Shang Kexi, the Prince of Pingnan in Guangdong during the Qing Dynasty, made donations to the temple. These contributions not only expanded the scale of Haichuang Temple but also elevated its status within Guangzhou, transforming the once obscure Buddhist hall in the southern city into one of the five major temples in Guangzhou in a short period, with its social influence continuously growing. After successive renovations over the generations, the grandeur of Haichuang Temple could rival the large "forests" in the Jinling area of Nanjing.

During the Qing Dynasty, the "One Port for Trade" policy was implemented. According to the foreign affairs management system of the Qing Dynasty, foreign merchants were not allowed to leave designated commercial areas at will. Due to its geographical convenience of being across the Pearl River from the commercial district and its beautiful scenery, Haichuang Temple was included within the permitted activity zone. As a "reception window," Haichuang Temple has hosted many Westerners, who left behind many beautifully written travelogues with exotic flavors.

Reporter from China News Service: Why did the "export paintings" of the Qing Dynasty rise? What is the relationship between Haichuang Temple in Guangzhou and the "export paintings"? Why does the British Museum collect the "Haichuang Temple series paintings"? Why did Andersen, who lived far across the ocean, mention this distant ancient temple in the East?

Shi Guangze: The term "export paintings" refers to paintings created by Chinese artists using Western pigments and brushes, employing a realistic technique that combines Chinese and Western styles, featuring Chinese themes and sold to foreigners visiting China. The rise of "export paintings" during the Qing Dynasty was related to the "China craze" in Europe at that time. These paintings, serving as souvenirs, were exported from China's coastal regions to Europe.

The Haichuang Temple during the Qianlong period was a designated area for foreigners to disembark, where they rested and participated in official activities, thus becoming a symbol of Chinese culture in the eyes of foreigners. The Haichuang Temple was favored by foreigners and could be depicted in paintings, partly because it represented Buddhism, one of the three major teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism in Chinese culture; and partly because of the traditional Chinese cultural elements contained within the temple, such as traditional Chinese architecture.

In the "export paintings," the content related to Haichuang Temple is mainly landscape paintings, including temple architecture and religious activities. The garden style of Haichuang Temple, in a sense, reflects the aesthetics, feelings, and aspirations of generations of Zen masters. The layout of the temple garden has Zen charm, elegance, and character. There is a garden within the temple, and the garden is the temple itself.

The "Haitong Temple Group Paintings" housed in the British Library, which have been unveiled in recent years, provide a glimpse of the late 19th century Haitong Temple. These "export paintings" were transmitted to Britain through merchants and later donated to the British Library. The "export paintings" now housed in Haitong Temple are even more exquisite. They were commissioned by Manuel de Agüero, the chief representative of the Spanish Royal Philippine Company during his stay in China, and depict scenes using precious materials such as gold thread and gold powder.

"Export paintings" showcased Guangzhou's dual urban landscape as both a commercial hub and a place of religious practice to the world, significantly influencing the European upper class, and even impacting the creation of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. Andersen, who had never been to China, set the story of "The Twenty-Seventh Night" in his series of fairy tales, "The Picture Book Without Pictures," against a Chinese backdrop. Against the backdrop of the "One Port for Foreign Trade" policy, experts have verified that the temple mentioned in the fairy tale should be Haichuang Temple, reflecting its high reputation at the time.

Reporter from China News Service: As a witness and gathering place for international exchanges, Haichuang Temple has an extraordinary influence both domestically and internationally. What role did Haichuang Temple play in the exchange between Chinese and Western civilizations?

Shikouxiu: The Guangdong government once hosted British and Dutch delegations at Haichuang Temple, which thus became an official venue for the central government to exercise diplomatic etiquette.

Haichuang Temple plays a more significant role in showcasing Chinese religious culture, garden culture, architectural culture, and poetic culture, providing Westerners with a unique window and perspective to observe Eastern culture. These richly artistic and cultural elements have attracted overseas researchers and have led to the widespread dissemination of the temple's extensive architectural structures, sculptures, and cultural scenes abroad.

As the British Museum in London holds dozens of copperplate prints of Hai Zhuang Temple. The book "Treasures of the British Library: Highlights of Chinese Export Paintings from the Qing Dynasty" includes a set of export paintings of Hai Zhuang Temple in Guangzhou during the Qing Dynasty, which depict the famous Hai Zhuang Temple of Yangcheng and fully document the prosperous condition of Hai Zhuang Temple in the Qing Dynasty.

This unique cultural feature has made Haichuang Temple renowned worldwide, widely appearing in overseas literature, memoirs, and works of calligraphy and painting. At that time, almost every foreigner who visited Guangzhou would tour Haichuang Temple. In the eyes of foreigners, Haichuang Temple symbolized Chinese religious culture. Even to this day, in the minds of many Westerners, Haichuang Temple remains a key focus for studying Sino-Western cultural exchange and economic interaction during the Qing Dynasty.

Reporter from China News Service: What cultural characteristics of Lingnan Buddhism does Haichuang Temple embody?

Shi Guangze: The Haichuang Temple, where the Buddha's light shines universally, is an important monastery of the Lingnan Buddhist sect. The most prominent cultural feature of Haichuang Temple is its role as a platform for international cultural exchange, witnessing both the spread of Chinese culture through trade and travel, and the local acceptance of foreign cultures in Lingnan. The formation of Haichuang Temple fully embodies the inclusiveness of Lingnan Buddhist culture and its absorption of Confucian culture. It can be said that Haichuang Temple culture is a typical representative of the sinicization of Buddhism in China.

The garden art, bonsai art, and flower arrangement art of Haichuang Temple actually embody the monks' infinite love for life. The renowned Su Ren style bonsai art of Lingnan originated from Haichuang Temple, with its solitary branches, oblique tree shadows, and simple style being highly sought after, now becoming a favorite in the gardening world. The Su Ren style bonsai art also complements Haichuang Temple, becoming a way of life for the citizens of Guangzhou.

Zen culture has always been considered by scholars as the most deeply integrated school in the process of the Sinicization of Buddhism in China. The ethereal and refreshing Buddhist temples are places far from the mundane yet inseparable from it. Today, Haichuang Temple preserves the good traditions of the past, offering free public access. It serves both as a solemn place for worship and a pleasant retreat for citizens.

Reporter from China News Service: How should we explore the historical and cultural resources of Haichuang Temple in the future to support the construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative?

Shi Guangze: As a Buddhist temple rich in historical and cultural resources, Haichuang Temple plays an important role in the construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative.

Master Six Patriarch's wisdom teaches us that while people may be divided by regions, culture knows no boundaries. Through cultural exchange activities such as the "Zen Elegance and Refinement - Lingnan Monastic Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition and Haichuang Temple Cultural Exhibition," the calligraphy and other artistic works showcased by Haichuang Temple carry the beliefs, compassion, and wisdom of Buddhist culture, embodying universal values that help enhance international understanding and recognition. Haichuang Temple not only possesses rich historical and cultural resources but also attracts the attention of young people through innovative cultural and creative products. It also promotes the recognition and support of countries around the world for the Belt and Road Initiative through a win-win philosophy.