The Main Hall of Putuo Temple

The Main Hall of Putuo Temple

The Main Hall of Putuo Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Main Hall of Putuo Temple is located in Putuo Temple Front Lane within Nanchizi Street, Dongcheng District. The site was originally part of the Hongqing Palace in the southern city during the Ming Dynasty. In the early Qing Dynasty, it served as the residence of Dorgon, the Prince Regent (also known as Prince Rui), after he entered Beijing, and was called the Old Prince Rui Mansion. In the 33rd year of the Kangxi reign (1694), it was rebuilt as Mahakala Temple. In 1776, Emperor Qianlong bestowed the name “Putuo Temple” on the site. There was another Prince Rui Mansion located on Waijiaojie Street, which was the new residence granted after the restoration of the Prince Rui title during the Qianlong era. The Main Hall of Putuo Temple features grand architecture, a high platform base in the form of a sumeru pedestal, with a width of nine bays. Its roof is covered with yellow tiles outlined in green, while the front porch has green tiles outlined in yellow. The eaves feature three layers of flying rafters—an uncommon design in traditional Chinese architecture.

Aisin-Gioro Dorgon (November 17, 1612 – December 31, 1650), son of Nurhaci, also known as the Imperial Uncle Regent or the Imperial Father Regent, held the title of Prince Rui of the First Rank. In his youth, Dorgon campaigned with Huang Taiji across the land. In 1635, he accepted the surrender of Ligdan Khan’s son Ejei and obtained the Imperial Seal. He later led military campaigns in Southern Mongolia and the Joseon Dynasty, and commanded the Qing army’s entry into the Central Plains and the unification of the country. After Shunzhi entered the capital, Dorgon was promoted to Imperial Uncle Regent, and in the fifth year of Shunzhi’s reign, became the Imperial Father Regent. In 1650, Dorgon fell from his horse while hunting outside Gubeikou...  More details about Aisin-Gioro Dorgon++