Yonghegong Lamasery
The Yonghegong Lama Temple at the
northeast corner of downtown Beijing was originally
used as official residence for court eunuchs of the
Ming dynasty and was converted to the royal court of
Prince Yongzheng during the 33rd year (1693) of Kangxi's
reign of the Qing dynasty. In the 3rd year of Yongzheng's
rein (1725), it was elevated to imperial palace for
short stays away from the capital with the name changed
to Yonghe Palace of Peace and Harmony. During the 9th
year of Emperor Qian Long's reign (1477), it was change
into Lama Temple.
The dimensions of the temple are magnificent,
which have five courtyards in a row. The front structural
layout in the temple is bright and spacious dotted with
screen walls with carved murals, lifeless things and
decorated archways. The interior pavement leading to
the main halls and the evergreen pine and cypress appear
to be rather peaceful and secluded in the environment.
The back structural layout is composed of a cluster
of building, halls and pavilions intermingled with each
other, and upturned eaves and ridges beautifully interwoven
presenting a picturesque sight.
Palace of the Heavenly King, Yonghe
Palace, Eternal Blessing Hall, the Hall of the Wheel
of the Law and Hall of boundless Happiness are the main
structures. The Hall of the Wheel of the Law is extremely
imposing; the overall arrangement of its plane diagram
forms a cross sign and there are five petty garrets
on the ceiling decorated with small lama pagodas, which
are characterized by the style of lamaism. The Hall
of Boundless Happiness is the biggest building in the
Lama Temple of Peace and Harmony flanked by the Hall
of Everlasting Health and the Hall of Peace. They are
connected by a corridor of the Suspension Hall, which
form a cluster of majestic dignified buildings. In the
Hall of the Boundless Happiness, stands a famous huge
statue of Buddha, 26 meters high carved out of a whole
piece of sandalwood; it is the biggest wood-carving
Buddha in the world.
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