Dajue Temple
Dajue Temple | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Buddhist |
Location | |
Location | Beijing |
Architecture | |
Completed | 15th century Ming Dynasty |
TheDajue Temple(simplified Chinese:ĐạiGiácChùa;traditional Chinese:ĐạiGiácChùa;pinyin:Dàjué Sì;lit.'Great Awakening Temple/Temple of Enlightenment') is aBuddhisttemple located in theHaidian Districtof westernBeijing,China.It was founded in the 11th century, and the current temple dates to a reconstruction in the 15th century during theMing Dynasty.It contains three main halls, a gate, a pagoda and various side halls.
History
[edit]According to a stele at the temple, Dajue Temple was first built in 1068 during theLiao Dynastyand called Qingshui (Clear Water) Temple, after a stream that ran through the temple grounds.[1]It was later renamed Lingquan Temple, and after being rebuilt in 1428 during theMing Dynasty,was given its present name, "Dajue Temple."[2]The temple went through renovations in 1720 and 1747.[3]
Layout
[edit]The temple is arranged on an east–west axis, and contains five main buildings. Beginning at the east is the main gate followed by the Mahavira hall, the Amitabha Hall, the Sarirapagodaand finally the Longwang Hall, a building originally used to storesutras.[4]
Mahavira Hall
[edit]The Mahavira hall contains three large statues dating from the Ming Dynasty. The central one is ofSakyamuni,the left one is the Buddha of Medicine and right isAmitabha.Behind these three statues, facing the back exit of the hall, is a statue of Samatabhadra. On each side of the hall are statues of twenty devas.[5]On the wall behind these devas is a mural that dates from the Qing Dynasty. There is a large dragon carved into the ceiling.[6]
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Chiguotian
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Zengzhangtian
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GUangmutian
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Duowentian
Amitabha Hall
[edit]The Amitabha hall contains a large statue ofGuanyinwhich is flanked by twoBodhisattvastatues. Behind the statues, facing the back entrance, there is a Qing-era flying statue.[7]
Sarira Pagoda
[edit]The Sarirapagodacontains the relics of the monk Jialing, who was abbot of the temple for a few years in the 1720s. It was built shortly after his death in 1728.[8]The bottom part of the pagoda is an octagon, while the middle part is white and circular. The pagoda tapers out into a slender spire.[9]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- Pillsbury, Adam.Beijing Excursion Guide.Beijing: China Population Publishing, 2007.
- Li Jianbo.Dajue Si.Beijing: Beijing Yanshan Publishers, 2001.
- Liao Pin and Wu Wen.The Temples of Beijing.Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2006.