Puyou Temple

Puyou Temple

Puyou Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Puyou Temple is located within the Mountain Resort in Chengde City, Hebei Province.

Puyou Temple was built in the 25th year of the Qianlong reign (1760). That year marked the 50th birthday of Emperor Qianlong and the 70th birthday of his mother, the Empress Dowager, amid festive celebrations. It also coincided with the Qing army’s military campaign in the northwest, where they suppressed the rebellion of the Dzungar leaders Big and Small Hozha, following earlier victories over the Zunghar leader Dawachi and Amursana. This triumph brought an end to 90 years of separatist turmoil in the northwestern frontier region, ushering in peace for the various ethnic groups. To strengthen ties between inland China and the Mongolian and Tibetan regions through religious channels and to enhance cultural literacy, the Qing court established a scripture hall (a monastic college affiliated with temples) east of Puning Temple in the 25th year of Qianlong (1760), which later became Puyou Temple.

Covering an area of 9,000 square meters, Puyou Temple faces south and has a rectangular layout. Its floor plan breaks from the traditional Han-style “Seven Halls of a Buddhist Temple” layout. The Hall of Heavenly Kings is centrally positioned, with a Buddha hall built in front and a concave scripture tower added later, forming two-tiered courtyards at the front and back, all arranged with remarkable precision. The Buddha statues enshrined inside differ from those in other temples, featuring both Han-style and Tibetan-style figures, making this temple unique among the Outer Eight Temples.

The architectural style of the temple is predominantly Han-style, but the layout is distinctive. Puyou Temple shares a connected enclosure wall with Puning Temple, measuring 59.3 meters east-west and 116 meters north-south, covering an area of 0.68 hectares. The mountain gate is aligned parallel to that of Puning Temple, with five bays in width and three in depth, flanked by side gates. Directly north of the mountain gate lies the Dafangguang Hall, with seven bays in width and five in depth, featuring a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. The couplet on the front eaves of Dafangguang Hall reads: “The wondrous form reveals solemn grace, benevolence spreads across both Chinese and Sanskrit realms; wisdom’s cause nurtures blessings, joy shared by humans and heavens.” The plaque inside the hall reads “Great Meritorious Deeds.” Flanking the hall are side halls, each with three bays, forming the first courtyard. In front of the courtyard is the Hall of Heavenly Kings, with three bays in width and one in depth, a single-eave hip-and-gable roof, and another similar hall preceding the second courtyard, also with three bays in width and one in depth, a single-eave hip-and-gable roof, and side walls and gates on both sides.

North of the Hall of Heavenly Kings is the Scripture Tower, the temple’s scripture depository. It has seven bays in both width and depth, encircled by corridors, featuring a square double-eave pyramidal roof covered with yellow glazed tiles. It sits atop a Sumeru pedestal base, with three steps extending north, and one step each east and west. Three rows of columns are arranged around the square platform, with diamond-patterned lattice windows installed between the outer columns. The central three bays from north to south and the central bay from east to west have doors, while the other bays have lattice windows. The upper eaves feature bracket sets with single upward and downward projections, recessed two steps inward; the lower eaves have bracket sets with single upward and downward projections. The interior has a caisson ceiling, with corner beams forming an octagonal caisson and a square central dome. Inside is enshrined a gilded bronze statue of Sakyamuni. Flanking the hall are side halls, each with five bays. Behind the Scripture Tower is an “n”-shaped scripture tower, two stories high, with thirteen bays in width and a flush-gable roof. The front eaves have corridors that connect it to the side halls via verandas. The second-floor columns are equipped with railings, and the eaves are supported by brackets, with bead boards hanging from the eaves. The lower-level columns have inverted hanging lintels, decorated with floral carvings at both ends. Originally housing 500 uniquely crafted arhat statues, only 170 remain today, all of which are national cultural relics.

In 2006, Puyou Temple, as a historical architecture from the Qing Dynasty, was approved by the State Council to be included in the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units