The Beijing Folk Arts Museum (managed by the Beijing Dongyue Temple Administration) is the only national-level specialized museum dedicated to folk customs in Beijing. It is located at 141 Chaoyangmenwai Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, within the Beijing Dongyue Temple, a national key cultural heritage site.
The Beijing Dongyue Temple was first constructed in the sixth year of the Yuan Dynasty's Yanyou era (1319) by the contributions of Zhang Liusun and Wu Quanjie, eminent masters of the Xuanjiao sect during the Yuan Dynasty. The temple is primarily dedicated to the worship of the East Peak Emperor of Mount Tai. Over time, it underwent continuous expansions during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, gradually forming a layout with a central courtyard and two cross courtyards. Covering an area of approximately 47,400 square meters, the temple comprises more than 300 ancient buildings, which represent architectural styles from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, making it a treasure trove of ancient architecture. Historically, the Dongyue Temple served as the location for national sacrificial ceremonies, while also being a grand center for folk worship activities, showcasing a rich legacy of folk customs. In 1996, the Beijing Dongyue Temple was designated as a national key cultural heritage site by the State Council. The Beijing Dongyue Temple Administration and the Beijing Folk Arts Museum were established in 1997, with the Beijing Folk Arts Museum officially opening to the public in 1999.
The Beijing Folk Arts Museum (Beijing Dongyue Temple) and its branch, the Beiding Niangniang Temple, have undergone restoration and transformation and reopened to the public on August 1, 2023.
The Dongyue Temple, as a Taoist temple, covers an area of 71 acres and boasts a history of over 680 years, spanning the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. The architectural style encompasses the classics of these three dynasties and served as a national sacrificial site in ancient times. The Beiding Niangniang Temple was built by imperial decree during the Ming Dynasty and is one of the "Five Peaks and Eight Temples" in Beijing. The temple covers an area of nearly 10,000 square meters and features four courtyards with the main buildings arranged along the central axis, including the Shanmen Hall, Tianwang Hall, Niangniang Hall, Dongyue Hall, and Yuhuang Hall. In 2003, the Beiding Niangniang Temple was approved as the seventh batch of key cultural heritage sites in Beijing and was included in the "Cultural Heritage Restoration Plan for the Beijing 2008 Olympics".
Translator: ZHAO Huinan
