Was this lychee planted by the sixth ancestor Hui Neng?

Sixth Patriarch Huineng hand-planted a lychee tree

There is a lychee tree next to Guoen Temple in the hometown of the Sixth Patriarch Huineng. It is said that it was planted by the Sixth Patriarch Huineng himself when he returned to Guoen Temple in his later years. The book "Six Patriarchs and Guoen Temple" written by Shi Ruchan, the abbot of Guoen Temple, said: In the northeast of the temple, there is an ancient lily tree that has been around for more than 1,300 years. It was planted by the sixth ancestor Huineng when he led his disciples back to the former residence. Although it has gone through ups and downs and even burned by fire, it still grows upright, tall and tall, with luxuriant branches and tens of feet high, and it is better than it in midsummer. When Buddhist believers from Japan, South Korea and others came to the temple to find their ancestors, they regarded this tree as a holy object and paid homage to it. They also called this tree the "sacred tree" and the "Buddha". During the ripening season of Liguo, believers from home and abroad, especially in Southeast Asian countries, often come here to taste the Liguo. Some believers regard lychee leaves as a panacea for exorcising evil spirits and diseases, and believe that drinking tea made from lychee leaves can make people healthy and live longer. "Longshan Guoen Temple Chronicles" "The Sixth Patriarch Planted Lychee Trees by Hand" also said: "The head stands tall and stands on the left side of Guoen Temple. The tree is 18.5 meters high, and'the tree is old and insects are not beetles'. The stems died, but new shoots sprouted soon, and there were many fruits every year, so it was known as the'Buddha tree'."

1. The sixth ancestor Hui expert planting lychee should be a legend

Judging from the existing documentary records, some say that the sixth ancestor Hui Neng took his disciples away from Shaozhou Baolin Temple in the first year of Tang Xiantian (AD 712). Guoen Temple, NSW, his hometown, passed away on August 3rd of the lunar calendar in 713, and stayed at Guoen Temple for about one year. Some people say that the sixth ancestor Huineng returned to Guoen Temple in Xinzhou at the beginning of the seventh month of the lunar calendar in the second year of Tang Xiantian (AD 713) to pass away on the third day of August, which took about one month. According to the literature, in this year or one month, the sixth ancestor Hui Neng asked his disciples to step up the construction of the Pagoda, give lectures to the disciples, and explain to the disciples before passing away. He did not see him personally. The record of growing lychees. Therefore, it is a legend that the sixth ancestor Hui Neng planted lychees by himself.

2. It cannot be ruled out that the sixth ancestor Huineng planted lychees.

Lingnan is one of the hometowns of lychees. Jin Dynasty Guangzhou Cishi Jihan’s "Southern Grass and Trees" thought that Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty built Fuli Palace in Nanyue because of lychees. Named: "The "Sanfu Huangtu" said:'In the sixth year of Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty, he broke through Nanyue and built the Fuli Palace. The Fuli were named after the lychee."There are many varieties of lychee in Lingnan, among which Xinxing Litchi is one of the famous species, and most of them are praised by Wenxian. Qu Dajun's "Guangdong Xinyu" said: "Another one is as big as longan, also seedless, has a perfect fragrance, and its name is "Xiangli". Tan Cui's "Chu Ting Barnyard Pearl Records" says: "Xinxing Li is small but rich in flesh, and has a very fine core like cloves, so it is called'Lilac Li'. There are also seedless ones." Wu Yingkui’s "Lingnan Lizhi Pu" said: "Xinxing Lizhi is not found in Guangdong and Guangdong, only Xinxing has it. Either it has no nucleus, or it has nucleus but it is very small. If it is planted elsewhere, it will change.... Xinxing Li has the smallest ones. The nucleus is also as small as cloves, which can be called the eye of Mingzhu.” Zhang Qu’s "Jianlianlu in East Guangdong" said: “Another kind is as big as longan, with thick flesh and small nucleus. Emerging". Sixth ancestor Huineng lived in his hometown for more than 20 years in his early years. He naturally knew the charm of fragrant lychees. In his later years, he returned to his homeland with "leaf falling back to his roots". It is natural and possible to plant a lychee to show gratitude and repay the gratitude.

3. The poems and essays of the people in history are all called the six ancestors of Hui Neng

Although the various editions of the "Altar Sutra" and Zen literature are not mentioned, even the local chronicles have no specific records, but there are notes and Poems are traceable. At the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, Pan Yuheng compiled "Luxi Tongzhi", and once listed "Cangli Piyun" as one of the ten sceneries inside and outside the Guoen Temple. Wu Yingkui's "Lingnan Lizhipu" quoted from the poem "Xuehaitang Ji" poem note: "Xinxing Xiangli, the best cloud in the Sixth Ancestor Fatang. It is hand-planted, and there are many who regain prosperity after withering. Today its grandchildren still exist. Every year. Hundreds of them were born." Chen Zaiqian, a native of the town, was a member of the ninth year of Jiaqing. There is a poem "The Sixth Patriarch Hand Planting Litchi Trees": There are branches growing on the side of Longshan, which is next to Lu Cemetery. Planted by my teacher, the tree is old and insects are not worms. One thousand and two hundred years old, Kuang Jie waited for leisure. Yun He is too far away, and also embraces Vimalakirti. Uniquely cross branches, flutter into the clouds and mist. In midsummer, the fire is full, and the fragrance of the sky is vomiting. The beaded fetus is crystal clear, and the center is a tool for all things. The agate is filled with a jade bowl, pour the cloth with the law. One verse clarifies the mind, and there is no tree in Bodhi. Qi mouth and belly picture, turned to live behind. The tree can't stand it, and the teacher can't go. If I eat lychees, the Buddha is also self-evident.

If this lychee is really hand planted by the sixth ancestor of wisdom, it has been more than 1,300 years and may be the oldest lychee tree in Lingnan. After the reform and opening up, after the people's key training, there are many fruits every year. When the fruits are ripe and harvested, Guoen Temple will hold the "Buddha Lily Festival", allowing people to experience and promote the culture of the six ancestors while tasting the fragrant lily.