First built in the Ming Dynasty, the Beiding Niangniang Temple is on the North Fourth Ring Road. According to the legend, it was originally a tiny temple housing the village goddess. Later, mother of Emperor Shizong of the Ming Dynasty built a Niangniang Temple here in token of her gratitude to the Heaven for giving her the prince. The temple is dedicated to the Goddess of Mount Tai - Bixia Yuanjun. The horizontal inscribed board above the gate reads “The Beiding Niangniang Temple is built according to imperial edict.” The word “edict” suggests its relationship with the royal family and tells people that this is not an ordinary temple. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Beiding temple became one of the activity centers for those in Beijing who believed in the Bixia Yuanjun. You may ask why it is called “the Beiding Niangniang Temple” and what “ding” means here. Bixia Yuanjun was enshrined in the Bixia Yuanjun Temple on the top of Mount Tai. Although the statue of the goddess was moved to Beijing, far away from the Mount Tai, people still hold the goddess in high regard. Originally, there were five such temples in Beijing, named after five directions. They are “Dongding Niangniang Temple in the east,” “Xiding Niangniang Temple in the west,” “Nanding Niangniang Temple in the south,” “Beiding Niangniang Temple in the north,” and “Zhongding Niangniang Temple in the middle”, housing different goddesses. Jin Qizong, a Chinese expert in ethnic study, wrote in his book “Manchu people in the Suburb of Beijing,” that “Niangniang in the eyes of common people is second only to government officials. The goddesses of these temples, or Niangniang, are said to be mortals, teenage girls born by the same mother. One day, the mother took her three daughters to the Niangniang Temple in the south outside the Zuo’anmen Gate. The eldest daughter wanted to sit on the incense burner table in the main temple hall. The mother just could not stop her. The monk in the temple persuaded the mother, ‘She must have good reason to do so. There is no need to stop her.’ No one expected that once the girl sat on the golden niche, she immediately passed away and became a Niangniang. The mother was very sad for her loss. Then she took the other two girls to the Niangniang Temple in the north outside the Andingmen Gate. Her second daughter became the Niangniang in the similar way.

The mother had to go home with her youngest daughter. On their way home, the girl transformed into another Niangniang in the Niangniang Temple in the west.” You must be laughing at the story. It is unbelievable! Legends only reflect good wishes of the ordinary people. Just take it as a joke! Anyway, all of the Niangniang Temples have their own characteristics. The one in the middle is known for its folk Shehuo celebrations and temple fair; the temple in the south was famous for vehicle and horse racing; the one in the west served as the place for the empress dowager to pay tribute to Heaven; the temples in the north and east held temple fairs where goods were traded. Of the five Niangniang Temples, the only one that can be restored today is the Beiding Niangniang Temple. The temple, located at the northern end of the central axis of Beijing, has become one of the landmark buildings on the northern end of the city. Originally, the Beiding Niangniang Temple was a building with four rows of temple halls and five storeys. There was a large stage in front of the temple. In the past, dramas would be staged when temple fair was held. During the Republican Era, the temple fell into decay: the ancient buildings were seriously damaged and only the Shanmen Temple, the Heavenly King Temple, and the Bell Tower were left.

After being taken over by the cultural relics bureau of Chaoyang District, Beijing, in 1986, men have been designated to protect the temple. In 1998, funds were raised to repair the remaining buildings of the Beiding Niangniang Temple. The historical evolution of the temple shows us that the temple has witnessed Beijing’s development and folk customs. It was not only a place where many Beijing people placed their spiritual beliefs, but also a venue for folk activities as well as commodity trading. Therefore, the temple, as one of the important carriers of Beijing’s traditional culture, played a significant role in the lives of Beijing people in the Ming and Qing dynasties and in modern times.