The Eight Great Temples of the Western Hills

The Eight Great Temples of the Western Hills

The Eight Great Temples of the Western Hills is a cultural heritage site protected by Beijing Municipality.

The Eight Great Temples of the Western Hills [Chang’an Temple, Lingguang Temple, Sanshan Nunnery, Dabeian Nunnery, Longwang Hall, Xiangjie Temple, Baozhu Cave, and Zhengguo Temple] are located among the Cuiwei, Lushi, and Pingpo Mountains in the western suburbs. Surrounded by three peaks, these eight ancient temples are known as the “Eight Great Temples of the Western Hills” or the “Eight Great Monasteries,” and are a famous scenic area in the capital. The eight temples, in order, are Chang’an Temple, Lingguang Temple, Sanshan Nunnery, Dabeian Temple, Longwang Nunnery, Xiangjie Temple, Baozhu Cave, and Zhengguo Temple.

Chang’an Temple is situated at the foot of the southwestern side of the Cuiwei Mountain and was built during the Ming Dynasty. The temple faces east with its back to the west and consists of two halls: the front hall is the Sakyamuni Hall, and the rear hall is the Goddess Hall. Chang’an Temple has long been renowned among the temples of the Western Hills for its statues—Buddhist figures are seated on armrests, with Chinese facial features and postures distinct from those in other temples. It is also famous for its rare flowers and notable trees.

Lingguang Temple is located at the eastern foot of the Cuiwei Mountain and was first built in the Tang Dynasty. The temple is built along the mountain, and after climbing a 20-meter stone stairway, you reach the Mahavira Hall, which houses a bronze statue of Sakyamuni presented by the late Supreme Patriarch of Thailand in 1989. Behind the main hall stands the Sacred Tooth Relic Pagoda, which is 51 meters high, octagonal with thirteen tiers of dense eaves, and adorned with green tiles and a golden spire. The interior of the pagoda is divided into seven levels of halls, and the Sacred Tooth Relic Hall contains a vajra base holding a seven-treasure golden stupa that enshrines the Sacred Tooth Relic. According to Buddhist legends, after the Buddha’s passing, two sacred teeth remained in the human world—one was transmitted to Sri Lanka, and the other eventually made its way to China. On June 25, 1964, the Buddhist Association of China grandly held the consecration ceremony for the Sacred Tooth Relic Pagoda at Lingguang Temple.

Sanshan Nunnery is located a few hundred steps west of Lingguang Temple, nestled among the Cuiwei, Lushi, and Pingpo Mountains—hence its name. The nunnery was built during the Jin Dynasty. In front of the main hall’s mountain gate, there is a rectangular piece of white marble inscribed with natural landscapes, figures, and birds and beasts patterns, commonly known as the “Water Cloud Stone,” and it is considered one of the treasures of the Eight Great Temples.

Dabeian Temple is located 500 meters deep in the dense woods to the northwest of Sanshan Nunnery, halfway up the Pingpo Mountain, and was first built during the Liao and Jin periods. The main Mahavira Hall enshrines the Buddhas of the Three Ages, and the eighteen arhats on both sides are crafted from sandalwood mixed with fine sand, making them masterpieces among the sculptures of the Eight Great Temples.

Longquan Nunnery, also known as Longwang Hall, is located northwest of Dabeian Temple and was built during the Ming Dynasty. Inside the nunnery, a stone cave has spring water flowing from a carved stone dragon head into a square pool. The water is sweet and visitors often enjoy tea here. The main hall, Longwang Hall, enshrines the Dragon King, flanked by the Thunder God and the Lightning Goddess. Xiangjie Temple is also situated on the mountainside and was first built in the Tang Dynasty. It is the largest temple among the Eight Great Temples. The temple follows the mountain’s slope and is neatly built and magnificent. The Mahavira Hall enshrines the Buddhas of the Three Ages, with the eighteen arhats on both sides. In front of the hall are two stone steles. Legend says that when Emperor Kangxi came here to offer incense, his legs went weak and he knelt down, feeling something beneath him. Upon excavation, the steles were found, and he inscribed the characters “Jingfo” (Revere the Buddha) on them. Behind the steles is a line-engraved image of the “Free and Easy Bodhisattva of Great Compassion.” Interestingly, the Goddess of Mercy is depicted with a beard. In fact, when the worship of Guanyin was introduced to China, it was originally in the form of a dignified male figure. But as Guanyin’s powers are boundless and she has 32 manifestations, seven of which are female, the image of Guanyin seen today is mostly that of a beautiful woman. This evolved primarily to meet the worship needs of female devotees.

The Eight Great Temples of the Western Hills also include two more sites: the seventh, Baozhu Cave, named for the clam-shell-like rocks in the cave behind its hall, where visitors can climb to enjoy views of the surrounding mountains; and the eighth, Zhengguo Temple, located on the Lushi Mountain, which was first built in the Sui Dynasty and is the oldest temple on the mountain.

Surrounded by three mountains, the Eight Great Temples feature lush forests, rugged rocks, murmuring springs and caves, and a strong sense of wild charm.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Municipal Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Beijing