Yonghegong Temple: a unique cultural attraction
by eMarketingEyeThe Yonghegong Temple in Beijing is an ancient 17th century religious monument that was once the palace of Prince Yin Zhen, the son of Emperor Kang Xi. Following the prince’s accession to the throne a section of the palace was converted into a royal residence while the rest was turned into a lamasery. Notable because of its dedication to Tibetan Buddhism, the name Yonghegong means the “Palace of Peace and Harmony” in the Lhasa dialect. Being one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastries in the world, it is a prime exponent of Han Chinese and Tibetan art styles.
The temple is designed with a north-south central axis, the main gate lies at the southern end and five halls are built along the axis interspersed by ornamental gardens. The Hall of Heavenly Kings serves as the entrance to the monastery, the halls contains a large Maitreya Buddha statue and statues of the four Heavenly Kings along the walls of the building.
The largest and most important hall of the monastery is the Hall of Harmony and Peace; it houses three Buddha statues representing the enlightened ones of the past, present and future. The Bronze statues celebrate exquisite craftsmanship; while more statues of the 18 disciples of the Buddha are arranged along the walls of the hall. The Hall of Everlasting Protection was once the living quarters of Prince Yin Zhen, today it is a tomb, as it was here the prince’s coffin was laid to rest. This room features a Buddha statue known as the Healing Buddha.
Located in the Dongcheng District of Beijing, the Yonghegong Temple is situated close to Beijing serviced apartmentsknown as the Ascott Beijing. This area of Beijing is an eclectic mix of traditional architecture and culture with the vibrancy of a modern commercial capital.