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At the northeast corner of Beijing City
the traveler will find an elegant and ancient temple known as the
Yonghe Lamasery, which is the largest and most perfectly preserved
lamasery in present day China.
Built initially in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty, this building was
the residence of Emperor Yongzheng when he was just a prince. However,
in 1744 the Qing Dynasty formally changed the status of the dwelling
to that of a lamasery, and so Yonghe Lamasery became the national
centre of Lama administration.
The following details describe the main buildings inside the Lamasery.
On arrival at the south end of Yonghe Lamasery, the visitor will enter
a yard which contains a screen wall and three Paifangs (Gateways),
and will observe the red walls and stone lions, symbols which show
that this Lamasery was originally the dwelling of an Imperial Family
member. Entering north from the Gateways, the visitor will be confronted
by a wide straight road which was used for the carriages of the emperors
and their wives during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). At the northern
end of this road is Zhaotaimen (Gate of Peace Declaration), which
comprises three large archways, the central one of which was for the
exclusive use of the emperors.
Passing through Zhaotai Gate the visitor will enter the second yard
which contains a Drum Tower on the western side and a Bell tower on the eastern side, and in front
of these towers are two octagonal Stele Pavilions. Words by Emperor
Qianlong were carved in the stele explaining the traditional and historical
reasons that dwellings formerly used by Imperial Family members must
later be changed to temples.
Yonghe Gate, originally the main entrance to the Lamasery is now called
Devaraja Hall (Hall of the Heavenly Kings), as there are the statues
of four very powerful Heavenly Kings located on both sides of the
inner palace walls. The northern Heavenly King on the eastern side
holds a snake and treasures; the southern King on the eastern side
holds an umbrella and a silver mouse; the southern one on the western
side holds a sword and the northern one on the western side holds
a Pipa (a musical instrument used in ancient China). Located
in the centre of the Palace is a smiling Maitreya.
On departing Devaraja Hall the visitor will immediately observe an
ancient copper cooking vessel made in 1747 during the Qing Dynasty.
This vessel, which appears to be black with white marble stone as
its seat, has high artistic value and is among "the three rarest
things in Beijing". Six doors are inset into the
upper part of the vessel, with two dragons playing with a ball cast
on the doors, and there are three lions playing with a ball engraved
on the seat. On the northern side of the vessel is the Great Stele
Pavilion with the doors open on each of its four sides. Words by Emperor
Qianlong of Qing in the stele inform of the origin and meaning of
Lamaism. To the north of this Pavilion is an odd-shaped hill called
Xuyu Hill, a sacred place of rich religious meaning which was built
in the middle of a pool, and represents a place to which all Buddhists
are eager to go.
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| At the northeast corner of
Beijing City the traveler will find an elegant
and ancient temple known as the Yonghe Lamasery |
| Built initially in 1694 during
the Qing Dynasty, this building was the residence of Emperor
Yongzheng when he was just a prince |
| The visitor will be confronted
by a wide straight road which was used for the carriages of
the emperors and their wives during the Qing Dynasty (1644
- 1911) |
| The northern Heavenly King
on the eastern side holds a snake and treasures |
| The southern King on the eastern
side holds an umbrella and a silver mouse |
| The southern one on the western
side holds a sword and the northern one on the western side
holds a Pipa (a musical instrument used in ancient China) |
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