You'an Temple

You'an Temple

You'an Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

You'an Temple, also known as Yu Temple, is located in the northwest of Fuxin Mongolian Autonomous County, about 65 kilometers from the city center. It was first built in the sixth year of the Kangxi reign (1667) and is one of the temples in the Fuxin area that were personally bestowed with an imperial plaque and title by the Qing emperor.

In the 43rd year of Kangxi’s reign (1704), 10 kilometers east of the Tümed Right Banner Wangfu (Black City), the Qing court allocated funds to build “You'an Temple,” commonly known as Yu Temple. The temple complex included 10 halls with a total of 84 rooms, featuring a Buddhist Studies Monastery, a Kalachakra Monastery, and a Medical Monastery. At its peak, over 1,500 monks resided there. The temple owned 6,000 mu of cultivated land, 1,300 livestock, and three carts. Its head lama was a Hutuktu.

In the 21st year of Kangxi’s reign (1682), during the Kangxi Emperor’s eastern tour, he passed through Xifeng Pass, Rehe, Lingyuan, Chaoyang, Beipiao, and Black City, where he “stayed at Yu Temple.”

In the 28th year of Kangxi’s reign, the “Buddha Hall, Heavenly King Hall, and East and West Side Halls” were completed. The inscription on the You'an Temple stele recorded: “The hall was filled with sacred statues, all worthy of reverence, with a grand golden lamp constantly lit and incense burning in jade censers.” Later, the head lama traveled to Beijing to meet the emperor, who personally bestowed upon him a white jade plaque adorned with two dragons playing with a pearl, along with a sum of silver, to further expand the temple. In the 43rd year of Kangxi’s reign (1704), the Mountain Gate Hall, the Great Scripture Hall, and the Eight-Lion Base Pagoda were successively completed, marking the finish of the main construction. The Kangxi Emperor personally inscribed the name “You'an Temple” and granted a blue-ground, gold-lettered, dragon-carved plaque. He also titled the head lama as the First Generation Master of You'an Temple, and conferred upon him official documents (appointment certificates), seals, porcelain bowls, porcelain plates, as well as Cham dance masks and robes.

Approximately 22 kilometers northwest of Xinghe County’s Chengguan Town lies a renowned Tibetan Buddhist site — You'an Temple, commonly known as Qiaoerji Temple (or Qiaoerji Zhao). “Qiaoerji” is the highest academic degree in Tibetan Buddhism, conferred during the Qianlong era. Holders of this degree were permitted to have direct audiences with the emperor, could report major issues directly to him, and were exempt from kowtowing. The head lama of You'an Temple enjoyed this privilege, which speaks to the temple’s prestige and influence at the time.

Location: You'an Temple is situated in Damiao Village, Shisumu Village Committee, Minzu Tuanjie Township, present-day Xinghe County. Historically, it was part of the lands of the Turks and Xianbei peoples. During the Qing Dynasty, under the banner-county governance system, it belonged to the Qing Dynasty’s Plain Yellow Banner jurisdiction. The area was a mix of Mongolian and Han residents, featuring a unique natural landscape and a strategically advantageous location. The old National Highway 110 once passed in front of the temple, ensuring excellent transportation links. During the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, it was a stop along the postal relay routes. This temple complex, at its height of popularity, hosted over 300 pilgrims daily, with visitors coming from as far as a thousand li away.