Statues at Guanghua Temple

Statues at Guanghua Temple

The statues at Guanghua Temple are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Named “Guanghua Temple” by imperial decree of the Qing Dynasty, it is located in Biqueqi Town, Tumote Left Banner, Hohhot City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is a Gelug school Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Lama Dong Zhao is one of the “Eight Minor Temples” in the Hohhot area. Lama Dong Zhao is situated on the southern foothills of the Daqing Mountain, about 80 li northwest of the old city of Hohhot, within the territory of present-day Tumote Left Banner. As it is located west of East Lama Dong Zhao (Chongxi Temple), it is also known as “West Lama Dong Zhao.”

Legend has it that the temple was first built in the early years of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty by the eminent Tibetan monk Chahan Bogda. It is the first Tibetan Buddhist temple constructed in the Hohhot area. In the early 21st century, a yellow plaque hanging outside the first floor of Lama Dong Zhao reads: “Lama Dong, commonly known as Silver Cave, is the cave where the founding master, Bogda Chahan Lama, practiced. In the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, Bogda Chahan Lama engaged in prolonged fasting, chanting, meditation, ascetic practice, teaching disciples, and preaching in this cave. He entered nirvana in 1627 (the seventh year of the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty). His disciples sealed his body in a seated position inside the cave and revered him as the First generation Lama. The cave was later converted into a Buddhist temple. Starting in 1658 (the fifteenth year of the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty), halls were built at the foot of the mountain, forming Guanghua Temple.” Bogda Chahan Lama was an eminent monk from Tibet who traveled extensively throughout the Hohhot area before eventually practicing and constructing Lama Dong Zhao in the vicinity. After his passing, his disciples Chagan Diyanchi, Chahar Diyanchi, and Erdni Diyanchi inherited his teachings and successively built Shibaogei Zhao (Cishou Temple), Wusutu Zhao (Guangshou Temple), and East Lama Dong Zhao (Chongxi Temple) in the Hohhot area during the late Ming and early Qing periods, each becoming the first-generation lama of their respective temples.

Another account claims that the temple was initially built in the early years of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty by the monk Daobao Diyanchi Chilie Zhamusu. This version contradicts the first and it is impossible to determine which is accurate.

In 1658 (the fifteenth year of the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty), halls were expanded at the foot of the Silver Cave Mountain. Further expansions took place in 1719 (the fifty-eighth year of the Kangxi era) and 1783 (the forty-eighth year of the Qianlong era). In 1784 (the forty-ninth year of the Qianlong era), the Qing court bestowed the name “Guanghua Temple” upon the monastery.

Subordinate temples of Lama Dong Zhao include Zhuer gou Zhao, Aluban Zhao, Zhuleqing Zhao, Ming’an Zhao, Heigelin Zhao, and more than ten others. Even Shaqin Zhao (West Guanghua Temple) in Baotou is among its subordinate temples.

Further reading:

· Seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units