Spots inside Badachu Park - Xiangjie Temple

2022-05-20

Located in Pingpo Mountain, Xiangjie Temple is the largest temple in the Badachu Park today. It was first built in the Qian Yuan period of the Tang Dynasty (758-760) as "Pingpo Dajue Temple". During the Ming Dynasty, it was called "Da Yuan Tong Temple", and during the Kangxi Period of the Qing Dynasty, it was called "Sheng Gan Temple". During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the name was changed to the present one. The temple is located in the north and faces south, and is a magnificent place where the emperors stayed during their visits to the mountain. The temple consists of five courtyards in the left, middle and right. Along the Middle Road, a stone tablet engraved with the words "Edict built Xiangjie Temple" hangs above the Hall of Mountain Gate. The ancient pine in the courtyard is gnarled and twisted, spreading its branches, so it is called "Dragon Pine". In addition, there are the bell and drum two towers on the right and left. Behind is the Hall of the Heavenly King, with a width of three rooms. It is dedicated to the Four Heavenly Kings, Chebi Monk (Maitreya Buddha) and Vairocana. Up the stairs, there is a five-room main hall, called the Yuan Tong Treasure Hall. In front of the hall, there are two stone monuments. The left one is carved in relief with "Bodhisattva of Great Compassion self-facsimile statue", which is said to be an ancient stele from the Tang Dynasty unearthed during the Kangxi period when the temple was rebuilt. The inscription of the two characters of "respecting Buddha" on the left side of the stele was written by the Kangxi Emperor himself. The main hall is the Hall of the Great Hero, which is dedicated to the Three Buddhas and the Eighteen Arhats. The fifth courtyard is the Sutra Collection Building. The left is a courtyard with only three refined rooms. On the right is the "Palace Courtyard", which was the palace of Emperor Qianlong for his summer retreat. This courtyard has a good landscape.

北京旅游网翻译