Dahuisi Temple

　　  Destination Introduction
　　  Dahuisi Temple is situated in Haidian District and is commonly known as the Great Buddha Temple due to the large Buddha statue housed inside. The temple’s Dabei Hall masterfully integrates the three great artistic traditions of the Ming Dynasty—architecture, polychrome sculpture, and painting—and remains highly significant for its artistic charm and visual appeal.

　　　　    It was built in the eighth year of the Zhengde reign during the Ming Dynasty (1513) by the eunuch Zhang Xiong, head of the Directorate of Ceremonial. During the Jiajing era, the eunuch in charge of the Eastern Depot, surnamed Mai, added a Yousheng Guan (Sanctuary Temple) to the left of the monastery. In the reign of Emperor Shizong, a Zhenwu Shrine was also built behind the temple, using these two Taoist temples to help preserve Dahuisi Temple. At that time, Dahuisi Temple and Yousheng Guan together had 183 halls, covering an area of 421 mu. It was renovated in the 20th year of the Wanli reign (1592) and again in the 22nd year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1757). By the Guangxu reign, both the Buddhist temple and Taoist shrines were gradually falling into ruin, but after 1949, the mountain gate, the decorative screen wall in front, the east and west side halls, and Dahuisi Temple’s Dabei Treasure Hall still remained. The towering clay sculptures of the Twenty-Eight Celestial Guardians on the gable walls and the murals on the walls are masterpieces of Ming Dynasty sculpture and painting.

　　　　  Location: Located in Daliusu Village, Haidian District, Beijing

　　　　  The existing wooden-bodied polychrome statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, his disciples, and attendant bodhisattvas were created in the 1940s. The surrounding figures and murals along the three walls of the main hall, however, are original works from the Ming Dynasty. On the two sides of the hall, atop Sumeru pedestals, stand 28 celestial guardian deities of Buddhism, each 3.3 meters tall. These sculptures are majestic in presence and varied in expression. Chinese-style deities such as the Heavenly King (Indra) and Brahma are depicted in imperial attire, solemn and dignified; the Heavenly Kings and Skanda are fierce-eyed guardians, exuding the might of heavenly warriors; while the Bodhi Tree Deity and Hariti are graceful and benevolent, serene and kind. The first deity on the eastern side among the Twenty-Eight is the Great Emperor of Mount Tai. As the ruler of the underworld in the Chinese Taoist pantheon, he was “invited” into Buddhism. The Dahuisi Temple’s portrayal of the Great Emperor of Mount Tai features prominent cheekbones, sunken cheeks, and a pair of fangs protruding from the corners of the mouth, presenting the image of an aged yet authoritative figure. The 28 statues are richly modeled, powerful in form, and slightly leaning forward, as if attentively listening to the Dharma. Enhanced by their vibrant-colored robes, the figures form a cohesive, vivid, and lifelike ensemble, fully demonstrating the artistic brilliance of Ming Dynasty polychrome sculpture.

　　　　  Behind the statues is a large-scale colored fine-brush sequential painting that depicts the story of an ordinary person leading a virtuous life, achieving transcendence, and attaining enlightenment—indirectly reflecting an aspect of Ming Dynasty social life.

　　　　  Take bus routes 933 or 16 Branch Line and get off at the Dahuisi Temple stop  

　　   Haidian District, Beijing