Zhihua Temple

　　Zhihua Temple is located on the north side of the east entrance of Lumicang Lane in Dongcheng District, Beijing. In the eighth year of the Zhengtong era (1443) during the early Ming Dynasty, the eunuch Wang Zhen of the Directorate of Ceremonial built it following the Tang and Song “Seven-Hall Monastery” layout. Initially serving as his family temple, it was later granted the name “Bao’en Zhihua Temple.” Following the Tumu Crisis, Wang Zhen’s entire clan was executed. After Emperor Yingzong’s restoration to power, in the first year of the Tian Shun era (1457), a “Jingzhong Shrine” was erected inside the temple in honor of Wang Zhen, with a statue erected for worship.

　　Zhihua Temple

　　Zhihua Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. It is an ancient temple from the Ming Dynasty, originally built in the eighth year of the Zhengtong era (1443), featuring unique Ming-style characteristics. Its solemn and elegant black glazed tile roof made of rare materials, its simple and fresh decorative paintings, its exquisite and archaic Buddhist art, and its “Zhihua Temple Court Music,” known as the “living fossil of ancient Chinese music,” are all rare treasures.

　　Imperial-bestowed Temple Plaque

　　Zhihua Temple

　　The mountain gate bears a white marble horizontal plaque inscribed with “Imperial-bestowed Zhihua Temple.” The term “Imperial-bestowed” means that the temple name was conferred by the emperor. The so-called “Zhihua” means to enlighten all beings with the wisdom of the Buddha. Although the style of the temple gate follows the most common design among ancient Chinese temples, the two characters “Imperial-bestowed” alone are enough to demonstrate its noble status, indicating that within this ordinary-looking gate lies a truly unique treasure. Zhihua Temple flourished in the Ming Dynasty after being bestowed the name “Bao’en Zhihua Temple” by Emperor Yingzong, but was damaged in the Qing Dynasty due to the suppression of eunuch political corruption. Its history has been full of dramatic ups and downs, and to this day, it has stood for 559 years. The temple faces south and features a central axis along which are arranged the mountain gate, Zhihua Gate (also known as the Heavenly King Hall), Zhihua Hall, Rulai Hall (also called the Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion), and Dabei Hall. On the east and west sides of Zhihua Gate are the symmetrical Bell Tower and Drum Tower; in front of Zhihua Hall are the symmetrical Dazhi Hall and Zang Hall. All of these are typical Ming Dynasty hip-and-gable style buildings, making it the largest wooden architectural complex from the Ming Dynasty in Beijing.

　　Zhihua Hall

　　Facing south, it is the main hall of Zhihua Temple, equivalent to the Mahavira Hall in other temples. The center and both sides of the hall once held white marble Sumeru pedestals, with the central pedestal enshrining statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, and Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, while the sides featured wooden, gilded statues of the Eighteen Arhats—all of which are now lost. In 1972, the Three Buddhas were moved to the Great Sage Hall at Jue Temple in the Western Hills. This hall hangs a plaque inscribed with the words “No Coming, No Going,” written by Emperor Qianlong. Upon reflection, this may be a historical coincidence, a spark of inspiration from Emperor Qianlong, or a reflection of the boundless nature of Buddhism—leaving much to ponder.

　　Rulai Hall

　　Located behind Zhihua Hall, it is the largest building along the central axis. The hall enshrines the principal image of the Tathagata Buddha, hence the name Rulai Hall. The hall has two stories, and apart from areas with doors and windows, its four walls are covered with niches housing small gilded Buddha statues. It is said there are over nine thousand of them, which is why it is also called the Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion. Due to Zhihua Temple’s unique historical background, its paintings and sculptures not only exhibit strong religious themes (such as the revolving scripture repository), but also carry a pronounced secular social atmosphere.

　　Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion

　　It is the highest point of Zhihua Temple. From the distant mountain gate and bell and drum towers to the nearby Zhihua Hall and Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion, all the rooftops of the halls are covered with black glazed tiles, symbolizing sacredness, solemnity, authority, and nobility. Black glazed tiles were mainly used in imperial and officially commissioned temples, and only official kilns were permitted to produce them. The black-tiled roofs correspond perfectly with the temple’s name “Zhihua”—the former representing the descent of wind to subdue demons, the latter symbolizing the use of wisdom to enlighten sentient beings.

Zhihua Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.