This year, temple tourism has suddenly surged, with young people enthusiastically visiting temples to "worship Buddha and burn incense." However, seeking solace through Buddhism doesn't equate to adopting a passive attitude. Burned incense and pursuing ambitions are not contradictory. With the immense pressures of employment and life on their shoulders, the act of burning incense or worshiping Buddha reflects the determination of young people to not accept the status quo and to refuse mediocrity. After temple visits and tourist relaxation, young individuals ultimately return to their lives, relying on their own efforts and endeavors.
The Lama Temple
The Lama Temple, historically known as the residence for Emperor Yongzheng and Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, was converted into a Tibetan Buddhist temple during the ninth year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (1744). In 1981, it was opened to the public as a religious activity site and is the largest Gelug sect Tibetan Buddhist temple in the Beijing area. In 1995, it was officially registered by the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau as the "Lama Temple Tibetan Buddhist Art Museum," combining the functions of a religious site, tourist attraction, and museum.
The architectural layout of the Lama Temple, is complete and follows the conventions of Buddhist temple. At the front of the temple stands a towering archway, and a ceremonial path is laid out before the Zhaotai Gate, showcasing the grandeur of royal construction. The seven structures in the front section, including the Zhaotai Gate, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Yonghe Gate, Yonghe Lamasery, Hall of Scriptures, and Hall of Tantra, embody the standard layout of a Chinese Buddhist temple known as "Seven Halls and Courtyards."
The rear halls of the Lama Temple rise in levels, symbolizing the solemn and auspicious world of the Buddha. The "one large and four small" Tibetan-style skylights on the roof of the Dharma Wheel Hall of the Great Sutra Hall hold a profound meaning, representing the Buddhist concept of Mount Sumeru(须弥山) being surrounded by the four continents. The establishment of the Hall of Scriptures, Hall of Tantra, Wheel of Time Hall, and Medicine Buddha Hall, known as the "Four Major Dratsang," signifies that Lama Temple is a complete educational institution of Tibetan Buddhism. The tallest building, the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas, and the huge "Maitreya Buddha" towering inside, embodies the sacred realm of the "future coming Buddha" and the "Tushita Heaven."
The most significant royal inscription in the central part of the temple is the "Lama's Discourse" (喇嘛说), which proclaims to the world the fundamental national policy of government involvement in managing religious affairs. This inscription also established the Lama Temple's status as the "Foremost Royal-Designated Temple" in Beijing and as the central authority for managing Tibetan Buddhist affairs under the Qing government.
The collection of cultural relics at the Lama Temple mainly includes immovable artifacts such as ancient architecture and stone inscriptions, as well as movable artifacts like Buddha statues, Thang-ga, and Buddhist ritual objects. Due to its status as an imperial temple during the Qing Dynasty, the items in Lama Temple's collection primarily originate from imperial bestowals, tribute from Mongolian and Tibetan regions, and the casting of Buddha statues and ritual objects by the Qing Imperial Workshops. Intangible cultural heritage encompasses various practices, including festive rituals and ceremonies, Vajrayana demon-quelling dances, Buddhist music, Laba rice porridge tradition, the craftsmanship of altar enclosures, techniques for making intricate dough sculptures used as offerings, and the art of Tibetan script.
The Confucian Temple
The Confucian Temple, located in the northern part of Dongcheng District, is the place where Confucius was worshipped during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It was initially built in the sixth year of the Yuan Dynasty's Dade era (1302) and completed in the tenth year of Dade (1306).
The Confucian Temple and Imperial College Museum were established in June 2008 (originally founded as the Confucian Temple and Imperial College Management Office in March 2005). This museum is a specialized historical institution and is under the jurisdiction of the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau. The museum's main responsibilities include the protection and utilization of the Confucius Temple and Imperial College, conducting research on topics related to Confucius and the imperial examination system, and collecting, organizing, preserving, and exhibiting relevant artifacts and documentary materials.
The Confucian Temple occupies an area of 22,000 square meters and consists of three main courtyards. Along the central axis, the buildings include the Xianshi Hall, Dacheng Hall, Dacheng Palace and the Chongsheng Temple. In the front courtyard, to the east, there are the Beiting Pavilion, Shen Chu, Xingsheng Pavilion , and Jing Pavilion. To the west, there are the Beiting Pavilion and the Zhizhai Hall, and there is the Chijing Gate, connecting to the Imperial College. Flanking both sides are 198 stone tablets from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, inscribed with the names, hometowns, and rankings of 51,624 successful candidates of the imperial examinations. These tablets provide valuable historical data for the study of China's imperial examination system. Beyond the Dacheng Gate, there are the Qianlong Stone Drums and two Qing Dynasty stone tablets related to them. In the central courtyard, the main structures are the East and West Wing Corridors and 13 Pavilion for Imperial Steles. In the rear courtyard, Chongsheng Temple stands independently, forming a complete ensemble of ancient buildings that constitute the entire Beijing Confucian Temple complex.
The Zhihua Temple
The Zhihua Temple is located in the eastern part of Dongcheng District, at No. 5 Lumi Cang Hutong. It was built in the ninth year of the Ming Dynasty's Zhengtong era (1444) by Wang Zhen, a eunuch from Sili Jian eunuch. It was named "Baoen Zhuhua Chan Buddhist Temple." In the fourteenth year of the Zhengtong era (1449), Wang Zhen was executed due to the "Tumu Crisis." In the first year of the Tian Shun era (1457), a shrine called "Jingzhong Shrine" was established within the temple to honor Wang Zhen, and a statue was enshrined. In the sixth year of the Tian Shun era (1462), a complete edition of the Tripitaka and two scripture cabinets were bestowed upon the temple, leading to a period of prosperity. In the seventh year of the Qianlong era (1742) during the Qing Dynasty, the censor Shen Tingfang used the pretext of Wang Zhen's criminal history during the Ming Dynasty to request the destruction of the statue of Wang Zhen within the temple, which was approved. Subsequently, the temple's fortunes declined, and the monks relied on renting out temple buildings to make a living.
Zhihua Temple holds numerous invaluable cultural relics. Among these, the "Jing Music," validated by experts in ethnic music, is renowned as a "living artifact." Introduced to the temple in the 11th year of the Ming Zhengtong era (1446), the "Jing Music" has been passed down from master to pupil with strict adherence to the style of ancient music. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, it has been a part of the Yanyue drumming school and is one of the oldest surviving music in China.
During the era of the Republic of China, Berlin Temple underwent occupation by institutions like Buddhist academies and military hospitals. In 1977, the precious cultural relic "Qinglong Canon Version," originally housed in Berlin Temple, was relocated to Zhihua Temple for safekeeping. In 1987 and 1990, the national government allocated significant funds for the extensive restoration of Zhihua Temple. The primary architecture's framework, bracketing, and colorful paintings still retain the style of the Ming Dynasty. To enhance the preservation of this Ming-era temple, the Zhihua Temple Cultural Relics Preservation Office was established in 1984.
The Miaoying Temple
Miaoying Temple, commonly known as the White Pagoda Temple, was founded during the Yuan Dynasty and stands as a Tibetan Buddhist Gelugpa sect monastery. The most distinctive structure within is the White Pagoda, a towering edifice designed and constructed by Nepalese artisan Aniko. It is China's earliest-surviving and largest-scale Lamaist pagoda and holds significant importance in Beijing's urban memory. With a history spanning 750 years, it also serves as a spiritual landmark of Beijing.
The White Pagoda was initially commissioned by Kublai Khan to be built upon the remains of a Liao Dynasty pagoda. Designed and crafted under the supervision of Nepalese craftsman Aniko, the White Pagoda boasts a gleaming white exterior reminiscent of snow. It was the tallest building in Beijing during its time, earning it the moniker "Golden City Jade Pagoda," showcasing the dignity and authority of the Yuan Empire. Emperor Qianlong had even ordered the placement of rare Buddhist treasures within the spire as protective relics. Moreover, the distinctive spire design of the White Pagoda is a unique feature exclusive to China, adding to its individuality.
Following the completion of the White Pagoda, a temple named "Dasheng Shouwan'an Temple" was erected around the pagoda's central location, which is now known as Miaoying Temple. Withstanding the test of time, Miaoying Temple has undergone multiple renovations throughout history. It wasn't until the eighth year of the Ming Xuanzong era that the temple underwent significant restoration and was renamed Miaoying Temple.
During the later periods of the Qing Dynasty, Miaoying Temple gradually transformed into one of Beijing's renowned temple fair venues. On festive occasions and holidays, it became a bustling center of activity, giving rise to the folk tradition of "Walking to the White Pagoda on the eighth day of the eighth lunar month".
