Yonghegong
Lama Temple
The temple of Tibetan Buddhism is located
near Andingmen city gate in northeastern
Beijing. It was built in 1649 as the residence
of Emperor Yong Zheng when he was crown
prince. After he moved into the imperial
palace the new emperor turned half of his
former residence into a lamaist temple of
the Yellow Sect and the other half into
a garden. The pressent name was given in
1725. The Hall of Yongyou and Hall of Wheel
of the Law and some other main structures
were reroofed with yellow glazed tiles when
the dead Emperor Yong Zheng lay in state
in the temple.
The whole ground of the temple
is composed of seven courtyards divided
by an Archway Compound, Zhaotai Gate, Hall
of Heavenly Kings, Yonghe Palace, Yongyou
Hall,Hall of Wheel of the Law and Wanfu
Tower. The courtyards become smaller from
north to south while the buildings become
higher, a perfect combination of central
China, Manchu, Mongol and Tibetan architectural
styles.
The lamasery keeps a great number
of Buddhist statues and cultural relics.
Ajade carving of 500 arhats, nanmu wood
niche with gold thread and a 18-meter-high
statue of Buddha are the best known treasures
in the temple.
500- Arhat Mount
 The
carving is made of sandalwood while the
500 arhats of gold, silver, copper, iron
and zinc.
Bronze burner
The bronze burner in front of
the main hall of the temple was cast in
1747. It is four meters high and has six
openings to release smoke. Its well polished
wall bears elaborately carved designs. Its
three feet are in the shape of a lion. China
has only two such bronze burners.
Lamas chanting prayer
The 6.1-meter-high copper ststue
in the center of the Hall of the Wheel of
the Law is of Tsonglhapa, founder of the
Buddhist Yellow Sect. Tsongkhapa was a native
of Huangzhong County in Qinghai Province
and studied Lamaism in Tibet. He was profoundly
disturbed by corrupted Buddhist monks of
the Mi Sect and was determined to carry
out reforms. He won popular support and
founded a new sect: the Yellow Sect. Followers
of this sect wear yellow hats and robes.
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