Ta-su monastery, (in) Guangzhou, Guangdong, CN

Raw data

"Nan-yüeh [南岳] (515–577) (PY Nanyue; Jpn Nangaku) Also known as Hui-ssu. T'ient'ai's teacher and the third patriarch of the T'ient'ai school in China, in the tradition that counts Nagarjuna as the school's founder. A native of Nan-yü-chou in north China, he entered the priesthood in 529 and concentrated on the study of the Lotus Sutra. Later he learned from Hui-wen the meditation for observing the mind and mastered the Lotus meditation, a meditation based on the Lotus Sutra. In 548 a malicious priest who had opposed Nan-yüeh in debate poisoned him, and he nearly died. In 553 another rival priest poisoned him. He survived this attempt, too, and in the next year moved to K'ai-yüeh-ssu [= Kaiyue] temple in Kuang-chou [Guangzhou (Canton)] where he lectured on the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra. In 555 he moved to Mount Ta-su in Kuang-chou. There he devoted himself to lecturing on the Wisdom and the Lotus sutras and engaged in the practice of the Lotus Sutra and the training of his disciples; one of those disciples was T'ient'ai. In 568 he moved to Nan-yüeh [= Nanyue], the mountain after which he gained the name the Great Teacher Nan-yüeh, and received the title great meditation master from the emperor.”
(The Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism) http://www.sgilibrary.org/search_dict.php?id=1498

"T'ien-t'ai [天台] (538–597) (PY Tiantai; Jpn Tendai)
Also known as Chih-i [same as ven-zhiyi]. The founder of the T'ient'ai school in China, commonly referred to as the Great Teacher T'ient'ai or the Great Teacher Chihche (Chihche meaning "person of wisdom"). The name T'ient'ai was taken from Mount T'ient'ai where he lived, and this, too, became the name of the Buddhist school he effectively founded. […] He lost both parents soon thereafter and in 555 entered the Buddhist priesthood under Fa-hsy at Kuo-yüan-ssu temple. He then went to Mount Ta-hsien where he studied the Lotus Sutra and its related scriptures. In 560 he visited Nan-yüeh (also known as Hui-ssu) on Mount Ta-su to study under him, and as a result of intense practice, he is said to have attained an awakening through the "Medicine King" (twenty-third) chapter of the Lotus Sutra. This awakening is referred to as the "enlightenment on Mount Ta-su."
After seven years of practice under Nan-yüeh, T'ient'ai left the mountain […]." (The Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism) http://www.sgilibrary.org/search_dict.php?id=2399

"Chigi 智沮 Ch. Chih-i (538-597), Master of the T'ien-t'ai School. Born in Ching-chou 荊州 (Keishu) in Hunan Province (湖南省 Konansho, Hunansheng), he entered the priesthood at the age of eighteen. In 560, he went to Mt. Ta-su 大蘇山 (Daisozan) and met Hui-ssu 慧思 (Eji), under whose guidance he diligently practiced the Way and finally attained the 'Dharma-Lotus Samadhi' (Hokke-zanmai)." - http://www12.canvas.ne.jp/horai/masters-index.htm

Input by: tmciolek Jul 23 2013

"大苏山净居寺
  中国化佛教圣地——光州大苏山净居寺位于河南省光山县城西南22公里处,总面积800余公顷。大苏山净居寺乃佛教天台宗的发祥地,是集宗教、历史、人文、自然、生态景观资源于一体的风景名胜区。[…]
净居寺历史底蕴丰厚。公元554年,中国佛教天台宗二祖、净居寺开山祖师慧思结庵光州大苏山。慧思结庵摩崖石刻至今犹存,字迹依稀可辩。公元560年,智顗(乃天台宗三祖)慕名来到大苏山拜慧思为师,习法华、般若二经,得“一心三观”、“定慧双修”、“三谛圆融”等佛理,这就是我国佛学史、哲学史和思想史上著名的“大苏开悟”。公元567年,智顗秉承其师旨意率众离开大苏山到金陵瓦岗寺开坛讲经。公元575年到浙江天台山正式开宗立派,使中国化佛教的第一大宗派——天台宗最终诞生。公元705—707年,律宗大师道岸从长安返回故乡光州,为追念天台二圣,在大苏山脚下建造净居寺。其弟子鉴真随师以大苏山净居寺为基地,在江淮一带广播南山律宗,后不畏艰辛,六渡大海而最终到达东瀛,成为中日文化交流的先驱。以后净居寺在历史的长河中,历经风雨沧桑,几度兴衰。宋乾兴(1022—1023年)中复建,真宗赐额“敕赐梵天寺”。  净居寺人文资源丰富,素有“诗城乐地”之美称。大苏山是苏东坡的灵魂家园。北宋元丰3年(公元1080年),大文豪苏东坡因“乌台诗案”被贬黄州任团练副使,在赴任途中慕名来到大苏山净居寺,留下了千古名篇《游净居寺诗并叙》。宋后,亦多名人雅士追慕慧思、智 及东坡诗文而游赏净居寺,如黄庭坚、梅尧臣、蔡毅中等。净居寺景观丰富,历史上曾有“九龙捧圣”之称。自然景观有24处,人文景观有20多处,主要有慧思结庵摩崖石刻、梵天宫(寺院)、紫云塔遗址、苏东坡读书堂等。"
[Automated Google translation of a text of suspicious value:
Big Sioux Jingju Temple Mount
Buddhist shrines in China - Gwangju Jingju Big Sioux Mountain Temple is located in Henan Province, 22 km southwest of the county guangshan a total area of ​​800 hectares. Jingju Big Sioux Mountain Tiantai Temple is the birthplace of Buddhism, is a religious, historical, cultural, natural, ecological landscape resources in one of the scenic spots. […]
Jingju Temple rich historical heritage. AD 554, the Chinese Buddhist Tiantai two ancestors, Jingju Kaishanzushi Wise Temple Junction Um Gwangju Big Sioux Mountain. Huisi knot Um Cliff still exist, writing vaguely arguable. In 560 AD, Zhiyi (determined Tendai three ancestral) attracted to the Big Sioux mountain worship Huisi as a teacher, learning France and China, Prajna two classics, was "bent on three concept", "Dinghuiqiao alike", "Sandi harmony", etc. Buddhism, which is the history of Buddhism, philosophy, history and the history of ideas the famous "big Sioux enlightenment." In 567 AD, Zhiyi adhering to his teacher purpose to mobilize people to leave the Big Sioux Mountain Temple open forum Jinling Waagenophylloid preaching. AD 575 years to officially open cases Tiantai Leekpai, making China the largest sect of Buddhism - Tendai eventually born. AD 705-707 years Lvzong master to return home from Chang'an Road Gwangju shore for two holy remembrance roof, built in the foothills of Big Sioux Jingju Temple. With the division of his disciples and a large Su Jian Zhen Shan Temple Jingju base in JAC broadcast Nanshan Lvzong, after courage and six crossing the sea and eventually reach the EGL, becoming a pioneer of Sino-Japanese cultural exchanges. Net after living temple in the course of history, after vicissitudes, the rise and fall several times. Songkran Xing (1022-1023 years) in rehabilitation, thanks to the amount Shinshu "Chici Brahma Temple."

Jingju Temple rich human resources, known as "Poetry City Melody" reputation. Big Su Su Shan is the soul of their homes. Northern Yuanfeng three years (AD 1080), a literary giant because of "Wutai poem" was banished Huangzhou any militia Fushi, in his new post on the way attracted to the Big Sioux Jingju mountain temple, leaving a famous through the ages. "Temple Tour Jingju poetry and Syria. "Song after it resembles famous Ascot chase Muhui Si, wisdom and poetry while touring Dongpo Jingju Temple, such as Huang Ting, Mei Yao, Cai Yi medium. Jingju Temple landscape rich in history has been called "Kowloon holding St.," said. There are 24 natural landscape, cultural landscape has 20 multiple, mainly Huisi knot Um Cliff, Brahma Temple (the temple), Ziyun tower ruins, Su study hall and so on.] - http://www.baike.com/wiki/大苏山净居寺?prd=so_1_doc

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 04 Aug 2013

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 20 km from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Ta-su monastery, CN.

General location of the Ta-su monastery, CN.
Lat 23.1230 Long 113.2498
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2013.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=23.1230+113.2498+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Tasu%20monastery,%20CN)&ll=23.1230,113.2498&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Ta-su monastery

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • China:Guangdong Sheng

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names


4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx. Lat 23.1230 Long 113.2498 - based on visual identification of an arbitrary spot in Guangzhou, namely the "Youjian Table-Rennis Room", in maps/satellite imagery, maps.google.com - tmciolek, 03 Aug 2013.

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries


6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village


7. The settlement's alternative/historical names


8. The settlement's coordinates


9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • Mayahana

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

  • [missing data]

12. Date-intermediate

MBM chrono-tag 0533-66c 0567-99c - tmciolek 03 Aug 2013
0500-32p 0533-66c 0567-99c 0600-32c 0633-66c 0667-99c 0700-32c 0733-66c 0767-99c 0800-32c 0833-66c 0867-99c 0900-32c 0933-66c 0967-99c 1000-32c 1067-99c 1100-32p dated-xl


13. Date-late

MBM chrono-tag 1067-99c 1100-32p - tmciolek 03 Aug 2013


14. Details of contacts with other monasteries


15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • [missing data]

16. Additional notes

  • [missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)

17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

18. Known monks and nuns associated with this monastery


19. Available Printed Literature

  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 1]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 2]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 3]

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