Nianhua Temple

　　 Nianhua Temple is located at No. 61 Dashiqiao Hutong, Xicheng District. It was built in the ninth year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1581) for the Sichuan monk ?tang Qiao. Initially named Xihua Temple, it was later renamed Nianhua Temple. The temple is close to the historic Fahua Temple. In the area around the temple, there are also ruins of an ancient pagoda from the Ming Dynasty, which resembles Nianhua Temple in size and appearance, hence the name Qianfo Temple (Thousand Buddha Temple). Inside the Mahavira Hall, there are eighteen ancient bronze arhat statues and twenty-four Heavenly King statues. In front of the Mahavira Hall, there are two steles: the “Inscription for the Newly Built Huguo Baoying Qianfo Chan Temple” and the “Inscription for the Newly Built Huguo Baoying Qianfo Temple Statues,” both erected in the ninth year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. The temple was renovated in the twelfth year of the Yongzheng era of the Qing Dynasty and renamed Nianhua Temple. The plaque outside the hall reads “Jue’an Cihang” (Awakening Shore Mercy Ferry), and the plaque inside reads “Puming Baojing” (Universal Bright Mirror), both inscribed by Emperor Yongzheng. In front of the platform of the Mahavira Hall stands the “Nianhua Temple Stele” commissioned by Emperor Yongzheng in the twelfth year of the Yongzheng era. The current area of Nianhua Temple is over 6,000 square meters. The temple faces south and is divided into a central axis and two side wings. The central axis includes, in sequence: a screen wall, the mountain gate, an octagonal wall, a stone archway inscribed “Imperially Commissioned Nianhua Temple,” the bell and drum towers, the Heavenly King Hall, the Mahavira Hall, and the Sangharama Hall. Further back is the Scripture Depository. The east wing has six levels of halls, and the west wing has four. The ancestral hall on the west wing is an “indent” shaped building, with a square, four-cornered spired pavilion in front called the Suxin Pavilion. Some of the copper deity statues from the temple were moved to the White Stupa Temple, and others to the Fayuan Temple. In 1926, the Nianhua Temple Primary School was opened in the Lü Hall.