Huifu Temple

Huifu Temple

Huifu Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Commonly known as the East Grand Temple, Huifu Temple is located in Daban Town, Bairin Right Banner. It was first built in the 45th year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1706) under the supervision of Princess Rongxian, the second daughter of Emperor Kangxi. Initially named Barse (Tiger) Temple, it was later renamed Huifu Temple. The temple still retains its original scale, featuring a main gate, front hall, rear hall, east and west side halls, and a rear east-side chamber, among others. The rear hall is the most intact, with a width and depth of five bays each, a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, and well-preserved Buddha statues and murals inside. In front of the hall stand two stupa towers, each 4.5 meters tall. Shortly after the temple's completion, to welcome Emperor Kangxi’s visit to the Bashang Grassland, a temporary imperial palace was specially constructed north of the temple. The emperor visited here in the 50th year of his reign, and the site of the former palace still remains.

The temple still retains its original scale, featuring a main gate, front hall, rear hall, east and west side halls, and a rear east-side chamber, among others. The rear hall is the most intact, with a width and depth of five bays each, a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, and well-preserved Buddha statues and murals inside.

In front of the hall stand two stupa towers, each 4.5 meters tall. Shortly after the temple's completion, to welcome Emperor Kangxi’s visit to the Bashang Grassland, a temporary imperial palace was specially constructed north of the temple. The emperor visited here in the 50th year of his reign, and the site of the former palace still remains.

Located in Daban Town, the seat of the Bairin Right Banner government in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, there is a renowned ancient temple called Huifu Temple, commonly known as the East Grand Temple. It was first built in the 45th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1706) and refined over generations by several abbots, costing hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. The temple was constructed under the supervision of Princess Rongxian, the second daughter of Emperor Kangxi and Princess of the Guolun clan. The temple consists of two main parts: the temple complex itself and the square in front of it, covering a total area of 6,930 square meters.

Huifu Temple currently has over 160 existing structures, symmetrically arranged along a central axis in a balanced formation to create an enclosed architectural complex. The first courtyard includes the front hall (mountain gate), east and west side halls, and the main hall known as the Mahavira Hall. The second courtyard features east and west side halls, the rear main hall called "Harxindugang," and east and west wing rooms. The front and rear courtyards are enclosed by a 3-meter-high brick wall, and a pair of white marble lions stand in front of the mountain gate. A 16-meter-long, 4-meter-high screen wall is also present. The temple square is enclosed by a 2-meter-high stone wall with granite coping and interlocking joints. The mountain gate serves as the main entrance, flanked by side gates, with convenience doors set in the middle of the east and west walls.

Entering the mountain gate leads into the first courtyard. The Mahavira Hall serves as the main hall, featuring a double-eaved hip-and-gable architectural structure. The hall is seven bays wide and deep, with a total height of 18 meters, making it the principal structure of the temple. The top of the hall features a glistening finial, soaring chiwen (mythical beast heads), and delicate ridge ornaments, creating a magnificent sight. The interior and exterior of the hall are adorned with colorful paintings and murals. The east side hall is called the "Damajin" Hall, and the west side hall is the Guanyin Hall, both three bays wide, with painted murals around the skylight areas under the eaves. The second courtyard contains the rear main hall "Harxindugang" as the principal structure, along with east and west wing rooms and side halls. The rear hall also has a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, seven bays in both width and depth, with a three-bay front extension of a rolled shed roof. The deities enshrined in the rear hall include: Sakyamuni Buddha in the central position, Tsongkhapa the founder of the Gelug school, the Longevity Buddha, the Three Buddhas of the Past, Present and Future, Green Tara, White Tara, the Eighteen Arhats, and the Goddess of Auspiciousness. The second courtyard also houses two Tibetan-style stupas. The western stupa, named "Gendan Yindamu," was built in 1935, while the eastern one, named "Zhangchu Chaerdun," was built by Huifu Temple in the 32nd year of the Guangxu reign (1906). In front of the stone stupas sit two large bronze cauldrons, each with a diameter of 1.69 meters and a height of 0.88 meters, crafted in Duolun in the 32nd year of Guangxu. A pair of white marble lions and a stone incense burner stand in front of the rear hall.

At its peak, Huifu Temple housed over 700 monks. In 1762, Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty bestowed a golden plaque inscribed with the temple’s name “Pujue Temple” (meaning “Universal Awakening Temple”) in four languages—Mongolian, Chinese, Manchu, and Tibetan—on the rear hall (“Harxindugang”), which was hung above the main gate. In 1786, Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty granted a golden plaque inscribed with the name “Huifu Temple” in the same four languages to the Mahavira Hall (front hall), which was hung beneath the front eaves. Monks who came to Huifu Temple to preach included: the Third Panchen Lama, Lobsang Gyatso, from Morong Temple of the Urad Banner in the 2nd year of Qianlong’s reign (1737); the Second Jamyang Zhepa from the Labrang Monastery in Qinghai in the 35th year of Qianlong (1767); and the 9th Panchen Lama, Choekyi Nyima, in 1930. Starting in 1791, 11 banners of the Zhao Uda League each sent 50 monks to Huifu Temple, where they spent three days chanting the "Danjur" scriptures for the emperor’s longevity. After the chanting, the details were reported to the Lifan Yuan (Court of Colonial Affairs), along with specially prepared “immortal pills” and “holy water.” As a result, Huifu Temple gradually became the most prestigious league-level temple in the Zhao Uda League.

Most of Huifu Temple’s buildings maintain their original layout, and its murals are relatively well-preserved, making it a renowned ancient temple and center for Buddhist activities on the grasslands beyond the Great Wall. The temple boasts exquisitely carved beams and painted rafters, multi-storied pavilions, and embodies the wisdom of countless laborers. Its architectural style, with upturned eaves and bracket sets, the diverse forms of Buddha statues, the splendid paintings and decorations, also carry distinctive ethnic characteristics, and holds considerable historical, cultural, religious, and artistic value. The temple grounds, planted with pine trees, spruces, cypresses, and various shrubs and flowers, form an important local tourist attraction. In 1986, Huifu Temple was designated as an Autonomous Region-Level Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the People’s Government of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Daban Town: Located at the site of the Bairin Right Banner government, Daban Town was established in 2001 through the merger of the former Daban Town and the former Dushi Sumu. The town covers a total land area of 757,500 mu, including 28,000 mu of arable land and 23,000 mu of forested land. The Chaganmuren River and the Gulgutai River flow through the area and converge within the town, providing abundant water resources.

The town administers 17 villages (gacha), 52 kudul (groups), and 10 community neighborhood committees. The total population of the town area is 58,000, including 10,360 engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, and vegetable farming. There are 36 Party branches and 663 Party members... More detailed information about Daban Town++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units