Shenyang North Pagoda Fahua Temple

Shenyang North Pagoda Fahua Temple

Shenyang North Pagoda Fahua Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

In the middle of spring in the eighth year of the Chongde era (1643), Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty, Hong Taiji, decreed that four pagodas and four temples be built around the ancient city of Shenyang, each approximately 2.5 kilometers from the central temple — one in each of the cardinal directions. These were: the East Pagoda Yongguang Temple, symbolizing “the universal illumination of wisdom”; the West Pagoda Yanshou Temple, symbolizing “prayers for the emperor’s longevity”; the South Pagoda Guangci Temple, symbolizing “universal peace for the people”; and the North Pagoda Fahua Temple, symbolizing “the dissemination of the true dharma.” The “Veritable Records of Shizu” entry for June 18 of the first year of the Shunzhi era states: “The construction of the four pagodas around Shengjing was completed. A banquet was held for the lamas, and various gifts such as saddled horses, silk fabrics, and utensils were bestowed upon them.” This indicates that the four pagodas were completed in June 1644. Manchu archives also record that on June 19, 22, 25, and 28 of the first year of the Shunzhi era, the North Pagoda, East Pagoda, South Pagoda, and West Pagoda were consecrated one after another.

The temple complex includes a flush-gable entrance gate with three bays, a Hall of Heavenly Kings with three bays, and five-bay side halls on the east and west, each with five bays. There is also a hip-and-gable main hall with five bays. Originally a branch temple of Shenyang Shisheng Temple, this temple was historically active in Buddhist ceremonies and enjoyed great incense popularity. Emperor Qianlong visited the temple to worship during his eastern tour in 1778 and personally inscribed the plaques “Golden Mirror Encircling” and “Protectorate Fahua Temple.” Every year on the fifteenth day of the third lunar month, a temple fair is held here, featuring Vajra dance performances, attracting countless worshippers. In 1905, parts of the temple were destroyed during the Russo-Japanese War.

In 1962, the municipal government designated it as a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit. In 1984, the municipal government allocated funds for its restoration, and it officially opened to the public in October 1987. It now covers an area of 13,000 square meters.

In September 2002, driven by policies aimed at restoring religious activity sites, the North Pagoda Protectorate Fahua Temple was reinstated as a functioning religious venue. Xiarba was appointed as the presiding lama of the Shenyang North Pagoda Protectorate Fahua Temple, allowing normal Buddhist activities to resume. The temple is the most completely preserved among the surviving four pagoda temples.

Today, the temple features an entrance gate at the front, a Hall of Heavenly Kings in the middle, which houses the Maitreya Buddha, the Four Heavenly Kings, Skanda, and other deities. Between the Hall of Heavenly Kings and the main hall stand two stone steles erected in the second year of the Shunzhi era (1645) of the Qing Dynasty. These steles, with inscriptions on all four sides, feature texts in Manchu, Chinese, Mongolian, and Tibetan. They document the reasons for the temple’s construction, its orientation, name, key builders, start and completion dates, and provide important material for studying the historical appearance of Shengjing City. They also bear witness to the temple’s long and storied history. At the back lies the main hall, where the Buddha Shakyamuni, Maudgalyayana, and Shariputra — the teacher and disciples — are enshrined, along with Tsongkhapa and his two disciples, Gyaltsap Je and Khedrup Je, as well as the Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, and Vajrapani. On the east and west sides of the main hall are two side halls. The east side hall is the Exoteric Buddhism Hall, which enshrines Shakyamuni Buddha, the Eight Great Bodhisattvas, and the Eighteen Arhats.

On the east side of the main hall stands a “Mani Stone Pile” made of stones inscribed with the mantras of Buddhas and bodhisattvas. Behind it is a brick-built stupa in the shape of an inverted alms bowl. The stupa consists of three parts: the base platform, the body, and the spire. The base platform features carved pairs of lions and flaming treasure vases on each of its four sides. The body is shaped like an inverted alms bowl, and the main southern gate bears the “Ten Signs of Spiritual Freedom.” The spire, cast in bronze, is adorned with twelve wind bells, above which sit the sun, moon, and flaming jewel. These elements give the stupa a solemn and sacred appearance.

Scenic spot address: No. 27, Beita Street, Chongshan East Road, Yuhong District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province

Transportation: Take bus routes 131, 162, 178, 213, 245, 271, 299, 325, 328, or 399 within Shenyang city to reach the site.