Pyeongchang Beishan Temple

Pyeongchang Beishan Temple

Beishan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Beishan Temple is located in Desheng Town, about 40 kilometers from Pyeongchang County. Also known as Beifeng Temple, it was first built in the early Ming Dynasty and expanded between the 17th year (1837) and the 25th year (1845) of the Daoguang reign in the Qing Dynasty. It is an ancient Buddhist temple. The temple faces south and is laid out in a rectangular, field-like quadrangle with a single-eave hip-and-gable wooden roof. It is divided into front, middle, and rear courtyards, with side rooms and pavilions integrated on both sides. The architecture is built according to the terrain, resulting in a compact and delicate temple complex. The scenic area covers more than 5,000 square meters, including a construction area of 1,200 square meters and a green space of over 3,800 square meters.

Beishan Temple is the best-preserved ancient temple within the Bazhong City jurisdiction to date. According to inscriptions and records: “The Han Ming successors initially built temples and pagodas, casting large bells and golden statues, with the Buddhist halls shining as brightly as the sun and stars across the four seas, reverently honoring the North Feng Temple of this city.” Since its establishment in the early Ming Dynasty, the temple has been grand in scale. It suffered damage during the wars in the early Qing Dynasty but was restored during the Kangxi era, when the Erjiao Temple was established before being renamed Beishan Temple. The current front and middle courtyards, along with their murals, were expanded between the 17th and 25th years of the Daoguang reign in the Qing Dynasty, funded primarily by a monk named Lei Ziran. In front of the temple, an ancient bodhi tree from the Ming Dynasty and various rare old trees shade hundreds of stone steps leading up to Huixian Pavilion. Outside the main gate on the right is a stele forest, while a stone lion stands to the left. On the left side of the gate is the deep and solemn “Hidden Cave,” which is spacious and features two cave entrances, carved couplets, and gilded decorations. The cave walls house 120 Buddha statues in various forms. Stone pillars carved with poems and inscriptions stand tall on the eastern and western sides outside the gate, filled with neatly written, powerful characters. Upon entering the gate, you’ll find the front and middle courtyards, with the Eastern Yama Hall, Lingguan Hall, Tianwang Hall, and Liuyun Pavilion on the left, and the Southern Yama Hall, Good and Evil Hall, Ancestral Master Hall, and Aiyue Tower on the right. The walls inside the halls feature eight Ming and Qing dynasty murals, mostly depicting themes such as “Journey to the West” and theatrical stories. The compositions are rigorous, the figures exaggerated, and the brushwork fluid, all exquisitely rendered. Passing through the hall leads to the “Thousand Buddha Rock,” also known as the Twelve Enlightened Star Lords Hall, which houses statues of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, Thirteen Immortals, and Five Hundred Arhats. The entire hall is adorned with finely carved decorations arranged harmoniously. In the rear courtyard, there is also a lotus pond spanned by a three-arch stone bridge. Crossing the bridge leads to the Guanyin Hall, where the walls of the side rooms feature four colorful paintings: “Landscape Scenes” and “Tiger and Beast Paintings.” These artworks are vivid, richly colored, and imbued with profound meaning, offering viewers an aesthetic experience.

The temple features upturned eaves, painted beams, and ornate carvings. Bathed in the morning and evening light, it glows brilliantly. Its red walls, facing the sun, present a solemn atmosphere, while the divine statues are lifelike. Surrounded by ancient cypresses and lush woods, the temple exudes a uniquely serene and majestic aura. Having endured centuries of change, Beishan Temple remains a place of active worship. Though its monks have changed over time, devotees continue to visit, with some still coming to offer incense and pay homage during festivals.

In 1980, after multiple restorations, 58 murals and over 200 clay and stone statues were repaired, and the halls, surrounding mountain walls, and mountain paths were all renovated, making Beishan Temple appear even more magnificent.