Yonghegong Temple, located in Beijing, is one of the ten most important Lamaist shrines in China. The attraction plays an important role not only in the Celestial Empire's architectural and historical tradition, but is also the largest school of the Gelug branch of Tibetan Buddhism..
Historical excursion
Yunkhegong began its history in 1694, when Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty ruled ancient China. The temple was originally built to house eunuchs who served the imperial court.
In 1722, Kangxi died and power passed into the hands of his son Yongzheng, after which the temple became his residence. The new young emperor ruled under the motto "Yongzheng", which translates to "justice and harmony."
In accordance with this principle of rule, the temple was rebuilt several times to emphasise the harmonious beginning of the emperor's power. In addition, the main palace was named Yunhegong, which is interpreted in two ways: 'the palace of Harmony and Peace' as well as 'the palace of Yun, the true emperor.'
During Yongzheng's reign, most of the shrine was converted into a Lamaist monastery, while another part of it was set aside as living quarters for the emperor. The ruler died in 1735, and his body was placed in the central part of the temple.
The next emperor Qianlong made the temple imperial and granted him the status of supreme ruler. This is evidenced by the yellow colour of the roof tiles, which was only characteristic of imperial buildings. From then on, the temple began to hold annual memorial ceremonies attended by the emperors.
The year 1745 was a landmark year for Yunhegun, as it was given to a monastery that preached Lamaist culture. In the late 18th century, Emperor Qianlong annexed several new territories to China:
- Tibet;.
- Kashgaria;.
- Dzungaria.
Due to the spread of Lamaism in these territories, the emperor decided to establish the largest Lamaist temple, of which Yunhegong became a part.
During the Cultural Revolution, many shrines in China were subjected to destruction, but Yunhegong was saved thanks to the efforts of the country's Prime Minister Zhou Enlai. The temple was closed for a few years and reopened in 1982.
Today, this masterpiece of Chinese classical architecture attracts many tourists and researchers who want to experience the atmosphere of the Celestial Empire's past and learn more about the traditions of Lamaism. In addition, Yonghegong is a working temple and Buddhist centre.
Design of the temple
The interior of the temple is orientated to the sides of the world. This way of constructing religious buildings is considered traditional in Chinese architecture and carries a hidden symbolic meaning.
The temple is formed by five buildings separated by courtyards and prayer halls. The first courtyard of the temple is known for its Pailou memorial arches. They are decorated with delicate images of dragons and flowers. Souvenir shops and stalls are also located in this courtyard.
The northern arch leads to an alley that was called the Imperial Road. Many centuries ago only emperors had the right to pass along it, and now it is used by a solemn procession of monks during important ceremonies.
Imperial Road
The Imperial Road ends with the Clear Peace Gate, which opens the entrance to the next courtyard of Yunhegong. Interesting sights in the second courtyard include the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and pavilions.
Also within the courtyard are black stone steles with inscriptions that belong to the hand of Emperor Qianlong. Each inscription is a reflection of China's historical past and tells of the emperor's reverence for his father. Some of the inscriptions are in Mongolian, Manchu and Tibetan.
The other courtyards of the temple are similar to each other and contain different relics. For example, the third courtyard contains the oldest smoking pot, which is over 200 years old.
Gate of Harmony and Peace
Photo: Gerd Eichmann. Source: Wikipedia
The gate originally served as the entrance to the temple, and was later renamed the Hall of the Heavenly Kings. The gate is decorated on both sides with massive bronze statues of lions. In Chinese mythology, the lion symbolises wise power and success, so its figure was chosen by Buddhists to guard the main gate of Yunhegong..
The lion holds a large ball with one of its paws, which is a symbol of Buddhist knowledge. According to legend, you can make a wish by touching the ball and it will definitely come true. This tradition is known by many Chinese people, which is why the balls on the statues look shiny from many touches.
The centre of the hall is occupied by a statue of Maitreya Buddha. The deity is depicted as a full-fledged merrymaker. Buddhists believe that Maitreya is a descendant of the Buddha and have been waiting for his coming for over five hundred years.
Buddhist legend tells that the future Buddha Maitreya was born a thousand years ago and tonsured as a monk at Yuelin Monastery. Maitreya wandered all his life around the world, preaching the tenets of Buddhism. He called himself the coming Buddha, and after his death, the faithful began to refer to him as Buddha Maitreya.
The statue is surrounded by small sandalwood pagodas decorated with miniature images of Buddha. They symbolise longevity in Buddhist mythology.
Sacred statues
Yunhegong is filled with magnificent Buddhist-themed statues, each with a sacred significance. The most important statues of the temple are:
- Heavenly kings (warriors);
- Weito.
Statues of the Heavenly Kings are kept in the Gates of Harmony and Peace. These monuments are also referred to as the heavenly guardians who protect the peace of the four worlds: the southern, northern, eastern, and western worlds.
The southern world is at the mercy of the warrior Zengzhang, who holds his punishing sword. If evil spirits or demons decide to attack the temple, the warrior will slash them with his sword at the speed of light.
The eastern world is guarded by the warrior Chigo, who plays a four-stringed Chinese lute. The musical instrument serves as a weapon for the warrior, as Chigo stuns his opponents by playing it.
The Lord of the Northern World is a warrior who plays a four-stringed Chinese lute. The lord of the Northern World is considered to be Dowen, who holds a large umbrella. When the warrior opens the umbrella during battle, a strong wind rises and a tornado appears, engulfing all living things around. When this happens, enemies are blinded and lose their voices..
The western world is protected by the warrior Guanmu, depicted with a white-coloured snake in his hands. The reptile has the magical power to knock enemies off their feet, blow mist, and spray venom.
Another of the key guardians of Buddhism is considered to be the deity Weito. His statue is made of sandalwood. Weito has the ability to fly high above the ground and see the temple's enemies.
The warrior's weapon is a short rod made of a bundle of arrows called Vajra. The placement of the rod indicates the prosperity of the temple. For example, if the weapon rests on the shoulder of the warrior, it is a sign that the temple is rich and can shelter travellers for three or four days. If the Vajra is in the hands of a Veito, it means that the temple gives shelter to wanderers for only one day.
Hall of Disciplines
These unusual halls are arranged according to the four sides of the world and are for the study of disciplines important in the tradition of Buddhism.
The first hall is dedicated to medicine.
The first hall is dedicated to medicine, the second to the study of mathematics, the third was built for the study of esotericism, and the fourth was used to teach Buddhist philosophy. All the halls are characterised by beautiful interior decoration. The walls and ceilings are painted with delicate patterns in red, blue and gold colours..
The halls fulfilled their main purpose in the mid-20th century, when 30 students from Tibet, Mongolia, Liaoning and Qinghai were sent to the temple to study Buddhist knowledge.
The students were of different ages and backgrounds.
The students were of different ages, but they were united by a common cause to which they devoted all their free time. Every day the students visited the temple library as well as the four halls. They studied religious disciplines, suras, rituals and tenets of Buddhism.
The students followed strict monastic injunctions and studied diligently. The main goal of the older generation of lamas who served at the temple was to train a worthy generation of monks for further religious services at Yunhegun.
