Xuanren Temple

　　The Xuanren Temple is located at No. 2 and No. 4 Beichizi Street. It was built in the sixth year of the Yongzheng reign (1728) by imperial decree to enshrine the God of Wind, and is commonly known as the Wind God Temple. It was renovated in the ninth year of the Jiaqing reign (1804). Its design follows that of the Shishi Palace (dedicated to the Rain God) in Zhongnanhai, and it was bestowed the title “Manifest Blessing in Season,” while the temple itself was named “Xuanren” (Benevolent Declaration). Inside the temple is an imperial plaque inscribed with the characters “Harmony and Universal Peace,” written by Emperor Yongzheng. The Offering Hall enshrines the God of Wind, while the Rear Hall enshrines the Eight Wind Gods. The God of Wind is the deity governing wind, and the purpose of the Wind God Temple is to pray for divine protection to prevent the nation from suffering wind disasters.

　　According to the “Complete Map of the Capital” from the Qianlong era and on-site investigations: the temple is enclosed by temple walls. At the southern end, there is one memorial archway on each side (whether they have two pillars and one gate or four pillars and three gates is unknown). Inside the courtyard, a screen wall stands to the south, and the temple gate faces north. Entering the temple gate, bell and drum towers stand to the east and west, while the Offering Hall lies to the north. This hall has interior walls on both sides that extend north to the Rear Hall. On the southern part of the inner wall, there is one side gate on each side, leading to slender courtyards on either side of the inner wall, each containing nine rooms for attendants. Beyond the Offering Hall to the north are the Worship Hall, Rear Hall, and side halls to the east and west.

　　Xuanren Temple

　　The current condition shows that the main gate of the temple street is a large side gate facing west, which was modified later. All halls in the courtyard face south. In front of the temple gate, there is a straight-line glazed brick screen wall with a green-glazed tile roof, large ridge, stone Sumeru pedestal at the base, gold-trimmed lotus-petal center, all preserved in their original state. The temple gate consists of three bays, with a hip-and-gable roof and large ridge, yellow-glazed tiles with green trimming. The central bay features a stone arch, and above the gate hangs a stone plaque inscribed with “Imperially Commissioned Xuanren Temple.” Stone arch windows are on both sides, and under the eaves is a single downward-curved bracket set with three brackets. The roof is covered with gray tiles. On both sides of the lower eave are two wing rooms. The upper floor uses sun-shading boards with cloud-shaped windows, and under the eaves is a bracket set with one upward-curved bracket and a grasshopper head. The Offering Hall is three bays wide, measuring 10 meters in width and 6.2 meters in depth. Its roof is a hip-and-gable roof with a large ridge, yellow-glazed tiles with green trimming, and the beams and main crossbeams inside the hall are painted with spiral-patterned colored drawings. The aforementioned buildings have all been restored. The inner walls no longer exist, and the side rooms on both sides have been modified. The Worship Hall is three bays wide, measuring 14.4 meters in width and 11.8 meters in depth. It has a hip-and-gable roof with a large ridge, yellow-glazed tiles with green trimming, and under the eaves is a double downward-curved bracket set with five brackets. The painted ceiling features a floral pattern. The rear eaves show decorative painting patterns. The Rear Hall is three bays wide, with nine rooms on each side, two wing rooms, and two bell and drum towers. The side wings each have a narrow courtyard, connected via corridor. The entire architectural complex is protected as a Beijing Cultural Relics Protection Unit.