Shenyang Pengying Pavilion

Shenyang Pengying Pavilion

Pengying Palace is located on Nanta Street in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, commonly known as the Female Daoist Temple. It is the only female Taoist practice site in Northeast China, covering a total area of 6,700 square meters with a construction area of over 5,000 square meters. It is now a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit in Shenyang.

The predecessor of Pengying Palace was the Guan-Yue Temple. According to the inscription on the Guan-Yue Temple stele, the temple was established in the 26th year of the Jiajing reign during the Ming Dynasty (1547), boasting a history of over 400 years and rich cultural heritage.

The predecessor of Pengying Palace was the Guan-Yue Temple. According to the inscription on the Guan-Yue Temple stele, the temple was built in the 26th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1547).

Around 1910, Zhang Zuolin and Wu Junsheng allocated 100 hectares of military horse pasture land to support the Guan-Yue Temple.

The Guan-Yue Temple held grand and solemn sacrificial ceremonies every June in accordance with ancient rites. Dignitaries from the government, gentry, and business communities would attend the ceremonies annually, making the event highly lively — hence the name of the nearby “Nao Re Road” (Noisy Festival Road). These activities ceased after the September 18th Incident.

In the early years of the People’s Republic of China, the Guan-Yue Temple was renamed the Female Daoist Temple. During the Cultural Revolution, it was destroyed, and its foundation site, once a cultivation ground for female Taoist nuns, was unfortunately lost during that tumultuous decade. The site was also largely occupied by urban development. In the early 1980s, following the implementation of religious policies, both male and female Taoists gathered at the Taiqing Palace near the West Gate, which contradicted Taoist regulations. As a result, the government allocated three acres of land west of Nanta Park to build the Female Daoist Temple, named Pengying Palace. Construction began in the late autumn of 1994 (the year of Jiaxu). After three years, the project was completed in the mid-autumn of 1997 (the year of Dingchou). The main hall is a three-bay, two-story, hip-and-gable roof-style antique building spanning three rooms in width and two in depth, totaling 18 rooms across three floors. There are also two single-story side rooms totaling 20 rooms, a three-room mountain gate, and five-room dining halls, scripture halls, and guest halls. Including auxiliary halls and gatehouses, the total construction area is 1,500 square meters. Soon after, statues of deities were painted and installed, along with ritual vessels, couplets, and plaques — all facilities were fully equipped, with a total investment of 2.8 million yuan. This was made possible through strong government support, generous funding from the Taiqing Palace, and donations from followers. On October 15, 1997 (the year of Dingchou), tens of thousands of Taoist followers gathered to celebrate the consecration ceremony of the statues and the inauguration of the first abbess.

October 15, 1997, could be described as a day of blessed rain and compassionate clouds. On that day, over ten thousand followers gathered at the temple to witness the auspicious ceremony. However, the sky was heavily overcast with drizzling rain, causing anxiety among the Taoist practitioners and attendees.

Sincerity moved the heavens, and an opportunity arose. The incense offerings grew increasingly popular, and the female Taoists of Pengying Palace devoutly maintained the sacred grounds, purified their minds and bodies, promoted Taoist teachings, and inspired followers to love their country and abide by the law. Responding to this, the initiator of the “Sensing Altar” pledged over 1.5 million yuan to expand the Pengying Daoist Compound by adding the Yuantong Treasure Hall, spanning 3 bays in depth and 5 bays in width, totaling 15 rooms, as well as a three-story scripture tower, single rooms, and guest halls totaling 50 rooms. The total construction area of Pengying Palace reached 5,000 square meters, covering a site area of 6,800 square meters. This marked a great achievement made possible through the collective efforts of many. Thus, a monumental project, long envisioned, was finally realized. Pengying Palace stands as a blessed land for immortals and a sanctuary for Taoist practitioners. Its pavilions and halls shine brilliantly, resembling the majesty of celestial palaces, the splendor of jade structures, the serenity of a secluded paradise, and the harmony of a flourishing garden. It serves as a sacred place to enshrine immortal sages, a retreat for Taoist disciples to cultivate themselves, a continuation of the Taoist lineage, a revitalization of its traditions, a proclamation of the profound Tao, and a demonstration of the sacred doctrines. It is committed to spreading the teachings and safeguarding the nation, an indispensable duty. Upholding Taoist principles and rectifying social values, let all unite in heart and purpose.