liberation pond has been built near these structures. These reconstructed buildings have restored Guangxiao Temple to some extent, however the scale of the temple today is much smaller than in the past. The temple's records are principally recorded in a thread-bound edition entitled The Annals of Guangxiao Temple (), written in 1769. Architecture The extant buildings and halls include the Shanmen, Four Heavenly Kings Hall, Mahavira Hall, Hair Burying Pagoda, etc. Mahavira Hall The Mahavira Hall was originally built in 401 in the Eastern Jin dynasty (317–420) by senior monk Dharmayasas from Western Regions. Rebuilt and renovated in many dynasties, now it is wide, deep and high and preserves the largest, grandest and most magnificent hall in Lingnan Region. Flat and far-reaching, the eaves of the hall can adapt to the high temperature and heavy rains in the south China and the beams and pillars can avoid erosion by wind and rain. Instead of brick walls, the hall is surrounded by wooden windows which are engraved with flower patterns. Some of the windows are decorated with translucent shells, which dissipate heat, ventilate and collect light well. The hall houses statues of Sakyamuni, Amitabha and Maitreya. Great Compassion Column The Great Compassion Column () stands in front of the Mahavira Hall. It was made in 826 during the reign of Emperor Jingzong of the Tang dynasty (618–907). It is over high and made of green marble. Octagonal in shape, it has elegant style with a mushroom-shaped canopy on the top and engraved relief of Hercules at the bottom base. The Great Compassion Mantra in Sanskrit and Chinese are inscribed on the body. Hair Burying Pagoda Under the Bodhi tree behind the Mahavira Hall, there is the Hair Burying Pagoda (). In 676 during the Yifeng era (676–679) in the Tang dynasty (618–907), master Huineng cut his hair and received ordination as a monk. Abbot Yinzong () buried his hair here and built a pagoda to commemorate it. Octagonal in shape and high, it has 7 stories with 8 niches on each. East Tower and West Tower Two iron pagoda are erected behind the Mahavira Hall, which are the oldest existing iron towers in China. Built in the 963 in the Southern Han dynasty (907–960), the original West Tower was seven stories but now only preserves the bottom three floors. The East Tower was built in the 967 in the Southern Han