Dahuisi Temple

Dahuisi Temple

Dahuisi Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Destination Introduction

Dahuisi Temple is located in Haidian District and is commonly known as the Great Buddha Temple because of the large Buddha statue enshrined within. The temple’s Mahavira Hall masterfully integrates three major artistic forms of the Ming Dynasty—architecture, polychrome sculpture, and painting—retaining strong artistic charm and aesthetic value.

Constructed in the eighth year of the Zhengde era (1513) during the Ming Dynasty by the eunuch Zhang Xiong from the Directorate of Ceremonial, the temple saw additional construction during the Jiajing era when the eunuch in charge of the Eastern Depot, Mai Mou, built the Yousheng Guan (Sanctuary of the Sacred) to its left. During the reign of Emperor Shizong, the Zhenwu Shrine was also added behind the temple, using these two Taoist structures to help preserve Dahuisi Temple. At that time, Dahuisi Temple and Yousheng Guan together had 183 halls and covered an area of 421 mu. The temple was renovated in the 20th year of the Wanli era (1592) and again in the 22nd year of the Qianlong era (1757) during the Qing Dynasty. By the Guangxu era, both the Buddhist temple and Taoist shrines had gradually fallen into disrepair. After 1949, only the mountain gate, the screen wall in front of the gate, the east and west side halls, and the Mahavira Hall of Dahuisi Temple remained. The tall clay sculptures of the Twenty-Eight Celestial Guardians on the gable walls and the murals on the walls are masterpieces of Ming Dynasty sculpture and painting art.

Location: Located in Daliumu Village, Haidian District, Beijing

The existing wooden-bodied polychrome sculptures of Sakyamuni Buddha, his disciples, and attendant bodhisattvas were created in the 1940s. The statues and murals surrounding the three walls of the main hall, however, are original works from the Ming Dynasty. On the Sumeru pedestals on both sides of the hall stand 28 clay sculptures of guardian deities, each 3.3 meters tall, exuding grandeur and diverse expressions. The Chinese-style celestial beings such as the Heavenly King (Indra) and Brahma are dressed in imperial attire, dignified and solemn; the Heavenly Kings and Skanda are fierce-eyed guardians with the imposing aura of heavenly warriors; the Bodhi Tree Deity and Hariti (Mother of Demons) appear graceful and compassionate. The first deity on the eastern side among the Twenty-Eight is the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak (Dongyue Dadi), who, within China's Taoist pantheon, governs the underworld and was "invited" into Buddhism. The Dahuisi Temple sculpture of the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak features prominent cheekbones, sunken cheeks, and a pair of fangs protruding from the corners of the mouth, portraying an aged yet authoritative figure. The 28 sculptures are richly modeled, powerful in form, slightly leaning forward as if attentively listening to the Dharma. Enhanced by their vibrant-colored robes, the figures form a cohesive, vivid, and lifelike ensemble, fully demonstrating the artistic brilliance of Ming Dynasty polychrome sculpture.

Behind the sculptures are large-scale colored meticulous paintings in the form of a continuous narrative, depicting the story of an ordinary person leading a virtuous life, achieving transcendence, and attaining enlightenment—indirectly reflecting an aspect of Ming Dynasty social life.

Take bus routes 933 or 16 Branch Line and get off at Dahuisi Temple Station

Beijing Haidian District

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units in Beijing

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units