Fengtai Dawang Temple

　　Dawang Temple, also known as Jinti Yonggu Temple, is situated on the east bank dike of the Yongding River west of the Lugou Bridge, outside Beitian Village in Fengtai District, adjacent to the West Fifth Ring Road. Facing south with its back to the north, the temple is highly visible from afar. It is the only water control temple dedicated to the "Mother River of Beijing" — the Yongding River. The origin of Dawang Temple is related to "water management." In the 16th year of the Guangxu reign, the Yongding River burst its banks, causing floods that reached the area around Guang’anmen. The Qing court allocated 300,000 taels of silver and tasked Li Hongzhang, the Viceroy of Zhili, with organizing the sealing of the breach in the Yongding River dike. The breach was successfully sealed in September of that year.

　　To commemorate the successful emergency repair of the Yongding River dike breach, the officials involved in the water control project used surplus funds and materials the following year (1891) to build a Dragon King Temple at the foot of the dike. This structure served the dual purpose of housing flood prevention personnel and praying for safety. Empress Dowager Cixi inscribed a plaque for the temple reading “Eternal Protection for Calm Waves,” and Emperor Guangxu also inscribed one that read “Golden Dike Forever Firm.”

　　The temple enshrines the “Water Official Emperor” and the “River-Controlling Dragon King,” who are believed to ward off disasters. Locally, it is commonly referred to as “Dawang Temple” (Great King Temple) by nearby farmers. To this day, these inscribed stelae and plaques are still preserved in the temple, with their texts clearly visible.

　　The temple complex covers a total area of 1,322 square meters, with a built-up area of 582 square meters, including the gate hall (mountain gate), east and west side halls, east and west wing halls, and east and west side rooms. Upon entering the first courtyard through the gate hall, the east and west side halls are the Wenchang Hall and Guan Yu Hall, while the main hall is the Dawang Hall, which enshrines a deity dressed as a warrior. Legend has it that it was thanks to this “Great King’s” protection that the breached dam was successfully sealed after the flooding. Thus, it was only natural to enshrine him in the temple. Above the Great King hangs a plaque inscribed with “Golden Dike Forever Firm,” written by Emperor Guangxu. It is said that in 1890 (the 16th year of Guangxu), the Yongding River flooded, not only submerging dozens of counties including Daxing, Liangxiang, and Zhuozhou under water, but even reaching the area near Guang’anmen. At the time, Qing officials worked tirelessly day and night to successfully control the flood. The following year, the officials decided to use the remaining funds from the dike reinforcement project to build a water control temple as a commemoration, for which Emperor Guangxu personally inscribed the plaque. Passing through the Dawang Hall into the second courtyard, the side halls are the Cihang Hall and Sanxing Hall, and the main hall is the Dragon King Hall, which enshrines the Dragon King who governs water. Above the Dragon King’s head also hangs a plaque inscribed with “Eternal Protection for Calm Waves,” written by Empress Dowager Cixi.

　　In the more than 200 years of Qing Dynasty history, it is said that the Yongding River breached its banks seventy-eight times. Therefore, unlike other temples that enshrine deities, Dawang Temple would, during each flood season, find a turtle or snake from the Yongding River to enshrine in the main hall. Operas were also performed on the stage in its honor, conducting rituals to pray for exemption from floods.

　　Like many ancient sites, Dawang Temple went through various phases — from serving as barracks for river soldiers, to being used as a township government office, elementary school, brigade headquarters, and even a dormitory for educated youths… and inevitably fell into decline and disrepair. Because it was constructed with leftover funds from the water control project, the temple was built very simply, earning it the nickname “Poor Man’s Dawang Temple.” In 2003, Fengtai District in Beijing initiated a restoration project for Dawang Temple. Since then, on the second day of the second lunar month each year, the temple has held a grand blessing ceremony.