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Site of the Former Tianwang Temple

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The Tianwang Temple, originally built during the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty (mid-8th century) in Guang’anmenwai, the old city of Beijing, was named Tianwang Temple. Between the ninth and tenth years of the Tiānqìng era of the Liao Dynasty (1119–1120 AD), a stupa was constructed within the temple. By the end of the Jin Dynasty, the temple was destroyed but the stupa remained standing. In the seventh year of the Xuande era of the Ming Dynasty (1432 AD), the temple was rebuilt and renamed Tianning Temple. In the tenth year of the Zhengtong era (1445 AD), it was renamed again to Guangshan Jietan, and later reverted to its current name. The temple was destroyed once more in the late Ming Dynasty and was rebuilt in the 21st year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1756 AD). At the center of the temple lies the stupa from the Liao-era Tianwang Temple, with the mountain gate, the Buddha Welcoming Hall, and east and west side halls in front of the stupa, and the Three Great Bodhisattva Hall, ordination platform, and east and west side halls behind it. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, most of the halls and Buddha statues were damaged. In 1937, the halls in front of the stupa were restored, while the area behind the stupa fell into complete disrepair and was later gradually occupied by factories. The stupa’s base brick carvings were replaced in the early Ming Dynasty to resemble the original Liao style, and during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, the iron spire from the Liao period was changed to a brick-built finial. The 1976 earthquake caused the finial to collapse and damaged the stupa’s eaves, which were restored in 1992. Between 2002 and 2003, the halls in front of the stupa were reclaimed and refurbished to their original state. The Tianwang Temple was located in Yanqing Fang within the Tang-era Youzhou City, Liao-era Nanjing, and Jin-era Zhongdu City. The stupa is the oldest existing building in Beijing’s urban area and serves as an important landmark in the city’s development. To preserve history and continue cultural heritage, the People’s Government of Xuanwu District, Beijing, erected a stele to mark the former site, recount its changes, and provide this record for the public.

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The Site of the Former Tianwang Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Tianwang Temple, originally built during the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty (mid-8th century) in Guang’anmenwai, the old city of Beijing, was named Tianwang Temple. Between the ninth and tenth years of the Tiānqìng era of the Liao Dynasty (1119–1120 AD), a stupa was constructed within the temple. By the end of the Jin Dynasty, the temple was destroyed but the stupa remained standing. In the seventh year of the Xuande era of the Ming Dynasty (1432 AD), the temple was rebuilt and renamed Tianning Temple. In the tenth year of the Zhengtong era (1445 AD), it was renamed again to Guangshan Jietan, and later reverted to its current name. The temple was destroyed once more in the late Ming Dynasty and was rebuilt in the 21st year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1756 AD). At the center of the temple lies the stupa from the Liao-era Tianwang Temple, with the mountain gate, the Buddha Welcoming Hall, and east and west side halls in front of the stupa, and the Three Great Bodhisattva Hall, ordination platform, and east and west side halls behind it. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, most of the halls and Buddha statues were damaged. In 1937, the halls in front of the stupa were restored, while the area behind the stupa fell into complete disrepair and was later gradually occupied by factories. The stupa’s base brick carvings were replaced in the early Ming Dynasty to resemble the original Liao style, and during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, the iron spire from the Liao period was changed to a brick-built finial. The 1976 earthquake caused the finial to collapse and damaged the stupa’s eaves, which were restored in 1992. Between 2002 and 2003, the halls in front of the stupa were reclaimed and refurbished to their original state. The Tianwang Temple was located in Yanqing Fang within the Tang-era Youzhou City, Liao-era Nanjing, and Jin-era Zhongdu City. The stupa is the oldest existing building in Beijing’s urban area and serves as an important landmark in the city’s development. To preserve history and continue cultural heritage, the People’s Government of Xuanwu District, Beijing, erected a stele to mark the former site, recount its changes, and provide this record for the public.