The Three Great Temples of Kulun

The Three Great Temples of Kulun

The Three Great Temples of Kulun are a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism destination.

The Three Great Temples of Kulun are located in the central area of Kulun Town, the seat of Kulun Banner in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Kulun is an ancient city established in the 17th century. Within the city, following the slope from north to south, there are three magnificent temples built in tiers: Xingyuan Temple, Fuyuan Temple, and Xiangjiao Temple. Kulun Banner was the only one in Inner Mongolia during the Qing Dynasty that implemented a system combining religion and politics—a banner—and it is regarded as a sacred religious site revered by the Mongolian people. Xingyuan Temple served as the political and religious center of the banner, Fuyuan Temple as the financial center, and Xiangjiao Temple as the residence of the lamas.

Xingyuan Temple was first built in the sixth year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1649). Its main hall features 61 gilded dragon pillars, with both width and depth consisting of nine bays, earning it the name “Hall of Eighty-One Rooms.” Flanking the Hall of Heavenly Kings and the mountain gate are auxiliary halls, bell and drum towers, and more, covering an area of 25,000 square meters. It is a Tibetan-Chinese style monastery and now houses a museum. Fuyuan Temple was built in the seventh year of the Qianlong reign (1742), featuring four main halls: the mountain gate hall, scripture recitation hall, Buddha hall, and Laoye Temple, along with side halls and bell and drum towers. It originally had a stupa which was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Xiangjiao Temple also consists of four courtyards, with the Maitreya Hall, Infinite Buddha Hall, Jade Pillar Hall, Buddha Mother Hall, bedroom hall, and screen wall located inside the mountain gate. The architecture of the three temples combines Mongolian, Tibetan, and Han cultural elements, possessing high historical, scientific, and artistic value, as well as profound ethnic cultural significance.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites

Xiangjiao Temple

Xingyuan Temple

Fuyuan Temple