Chihwa Temple

This temple, which was first built in the Ming Dynasty, is hidden deep in the alleys and is a treasure that many Beijingers don't know about. Lama Temple and Tanzhe Temple are crowded with people, but no one disturbs you here.

The predecessor of Zhihua Temple was the family temple of a great eunuch in the early Ming Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, eunuchs were in power, and because they could not have descendants to continue the incense, the eunuchs built a temple for themselves. Later, it became a royal temple in the Qing Dynasty, and many of the ornaments inside can still vaguely see this history.

You can first listen to a piece of Beijing music that originated from court etiquette. It is a living fossil of music that has never been interrupted for 570 years.

In ancient times, music for court etiquette could not be heard outside the palace. The birth of Beijing music also originated from the family temple that was once the eunuchs’ family temple.

There were documents about the eunuchs engraved on the stone tablet in front of the Tathagata Hall. However, the text was scraped off after it was reported during the Qing Dynasty and people believed that eunuchs were not worthy of having incense burned.

This time, we were lucky enough to see the Wanfo Pavilion, which was not open to the public. We happened to meet a research team. It was already 4 or 5 pm, and the curator made an exception and let us follow him in for a visit. The tour guide said excitedly that she had walked this route for several years and had never had the opportunity to go up there. Finally, she was going to see the true face of the Wanfo Pavilion.

Once you climb up to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pavilion, those with trypophobia will be terrified, but it is also spectacular! The Buddha statues inside are all carved from wood, with craftsmanship from the Ming Dynasty. The walls of the attic are decorated with niches except for the doors and windows. Inside the niches are small lacquered and gold Buddha statues. It is said that there are 9999 Buddhas, and there is still 1 Buddha in the heart, so it is also called the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pavilion.

We were the last group of tourists leaving Zhihua Temple that day. We saw the glazed roofs, the Thousand Buddhas Sutra Library, the exquisitely carved caissons and murals, the neat blue bricks, the vermilion temples... My trip to Zhihua Temple will be unforgettable for me.

Strolling through the capital - Zhihua Temple

Zhihua Temple is located on the north side of Lumi Cangdong Road in Dongcheng District, Beijing. It was built by Wang Zhen, the eunuch of the Imperial Household Department in the early Ming Dynasty (1443) in imitation of the "Seven Halls of the Temple" of the Tang and Song Dynasties. It was originally a family temple and was later named "Baoen Zhihua Temple".

Zhihua Temple Highlights:

1. The best preserved temple in Beijing during the Ming Dynasty (architectural features and layout);

2. The exquisite caisson in the existing Tibetan hall, while the caissons in the other two halls have been lost overseas;

3. The imperial Buddhist music originated from the fossilized level of the closed eunuch temple;

4. The temple is like the ups and downs of the temple owner’s identity, experiencing a legendary rise and fall.

Worth a visit [smile]

The chakravartin and the altar caisson above are well worth seeing.

1. Architecture: Ming Dynasty wooden structure, well preserved. There is a related introduction in the temple. If you are interested, you can read it carefully. 2. Beijing Music Concert: One in the morning and afternoon every day, each 10 minutes, has been listed as an intangible cultural heritage. It is said that there is a relatively large music festival in April every year, and there are night activities. 3. The first 200 visitors are free every Wednesday, and it is basically free to go in the morning. The normal ticket seems to be 20 RMB (I caught the free ticket, so I am not sure) 4. The plants in the temple grow well. 5. It contrasts with the nearby Galaxy SOHO.

Zhihua Temple is a well-preserved Ming Dynasty temple in Beijing. It was built by Wang Zhen, a Ming Dynasty eunuch. There is a Ming Dynasty revolving sutra in the temple, which is beautifully carved. Unfortunately, the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded and took away the two caissons of the temple. Now only one caisson in the sutra hall remains. At the entrance of the alley is Xiaojie Luzhu, which is worth a try.

It's pretty good in the alley. Especially the colored sculptures in the Thousand Buddha Pavilion and the Thousand Buddha Pavilion. The annual tourist pass is free

This is a very low-key temple in Beijing. However, after walking in, you will find that there is something else inside. This is a very well-preserved Ming Dynasty temple in Beijing. The architecture and statues are exquisite, and there are very few people inside, giving a sense of tranquility.

Zhihua Temple is located deep in Lumicang Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing. Lumicang Hutong is parallel to Jinbao Street and Chaoyangmennei Street. Driving in is a test of driving skills, patience, and luck. It is a wise choice to walk through Jinbao Street, near the Xiaopaifang Hutong entrance of the East Second Ring Road, and then "Hutong Tour". Starting from the East Second Ring Road in the east and ending at Dongsi South Street in the west, this is a large area of ​​old Beijing Hutongs.

It is not surprising to see a red wall suddenly appear in the alley. As the imperial city of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the royal temple, and the residence of the princes and ministers, it is not uncommon in the inner city. Red walls, gray doors, and black roofs are "hidden in the city". In the old alley, various illegal buildings block the view, and various cables are flying everywhere, giving the Zhihua Temple a "protective color".

Zhihua Temple is affiliated to the Beijing Cultural Exchange Center under the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics. The ticket price is 20 yuan. The ticket office is at the side door on the east side of Zhihua Gate. Enter from the mountain gate, and after security check, enter the "Zhihua Gate Small Square". If you have a Beijing Card (bank card) issued by the Beijing Federation of Trade Unions, you can get free tickets. It is said that there are souvenirs. The explanation is voluntary, or you can make an appointment, or wait for the scheduled explanation at 10 or 15 o'clock every day.

The main building of the temple is the Zhihua Gate, which is the Heavenly King Hall (Maitreya Hall), with bell and drum towers on both sides. Entering further, it is the Zhihua Hall, with the Dazhi Hall and the Tibetan Hall on both sides as the east and west side halls, making a total of seven halls. Behind them are the Tathagata Hall, which is the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pavilion, and the Great Compassion Hall.

Zhihua Temple was a royal temple throughout the ages, and the abbot was sent by the imperial court's Buddhist Affairs Office. It is said that some monks, including the abbot, received salaries from the imperial court.

There is a Beijing music performance at Zhihua Temple at 10:00 and 15:00 every day, each lasting about 15 minutes. At the beginning of the performance, the Beijing music band will briefly introduce the instruments used in the performance. It is highly recommended. The side door on the east side of Zhihua Gate is now the ticket office. Enter from the mountain gate, after security check, enter the "Zhihua Gate Small Square".

Zhihua Temple (ticket price: 20 yuan/person, where the Beijing Cultural Exchange Center is located) is a relatively well-preserved Ming Dynasty temple (Wang Zhen's ancestral temple), located in Lumicang Hutong, Dongcheng District, across the street from Galaxy SOHO, a relatively low-key temple. There will be a 15-minute Beijing music performance at 10:00 and 15:00 every day, and you will also meet a special guide to explain the architecture of Zhihua Temple (dougong, the lost exquisite caisson, ridge beasts) and historical knowledge, you can listen to the explanation while walking.

Zhihua Temple houses the only Ming Dynasty Chakravartin in Beijing. The temple also houses the Dragon Sutra plates carved during the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods, which are extremely exquisite and precious.

Although its history is not so glorious, it is a rare temple with the characteristics of the Ming Dynasty. There are many treasures inside, and Beijing music is a rare intangible treasure, but it is hard to find.

You can get free tickets to Zhihua Temple at the ticket office. The park is medium in size and has ticket checking. You need to go through security checks. It is best not to bring lighters. The volunteers in the park are very enthusiastic in explaining. The recommended visiting time is half an hour to an hour.

Zhihua Temple is located in Lumichang Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing. The three most famous treasures of Beijing are worth seeing: the revolving sutra, the caisson ceiling, and the Beijing music. It is free every Wednesday.

After renovation in February 2018, it reopened, adding many introductions and modern equipment. There are Beijing music performances at 10 am and 3 pm every day, and volunteer explanations at 1:30 pm and 3:20 pm. I don't know the time in the morning. Zhihua Temple was built by Wang Zhen, a great eunuch in the Ming Dynasty. It has high standards, black glazed tiles, three-cross six-bowl windows, and dragon caissons. There were originally three large caissons, but unfortunately two of them and most of the ceilings were stolen by the United States. Other important cultural relics include Sakyamuni Buddha and Bodhisattva statues, sutras, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva murals, banknotes during the Hongwu period, bells and drums, etc.

The temple is not very big, but it is a relic of Ming Dynasty architecture, and the chakravartin is a masterpiece of art.

It's a very quiet little temple, but the environment is very good. The staff is also very kind. I was hesitating at the door, and the guard said kindly, "It's free today, come in and visit." When I left, I also said thank you for visiting.

Zhihua Temple is located in an alley. It is not a big place, but it is a national key cultural relic protection site. It is most famous for its Beijing music, with two performances every day. The caisson and Buddha statues inside are very delicate, and the folds of the wooden carved Buddha statues are very vivid.

Zhihua Temple was Wang Zhen's family temple. It is not big, but it has the characteristics of Ming Dynasty architecture. It is one of the first batch of cultural relics protection units in my country. The ticket price is 20 yuan. The first 200 people are free on Wednesday. The whole courtyard is not big. I think the main attractions are the rotating Tibetan in the Tibetan Hall and the music of Zhihua Temple. The Tibetan Hall is the west side hall, which has a very large rotating Tibetan. The rotating Tibetan is surrounded by drawers for Tibetan scriptures on all sides. There is a Buddha statue on each drawer, and the pillars on the side are also very beautiful. The caisson in the Tibetan Hall is also the only caisson left in Zhihua Temple. The remaining two have been sold to museums in the United States. Another attraction is the music of Zhihua Temple. This is a living music that has been passed down from the Ming Dynasty to the present day. It is a national intangible cultural heritage. There is a performance every day at 10 am and 3 pm. But this is also facing the problem of being lost. There are not many people who can perform, and they are also older. The interesting thing here is that there is no monk, and the people who are guarding the performance seem to be nearby residents. In the last courtyard, an old lady even opened the lock downstairs and let me in to see.

It was a very unexpected surprise. First, the staff was very kind. They should be part-time workers after retirement. Second, the temple was hidden in a dilapidated alley, but it was very beautiful inside. It was snowing for the first time, and the scenery was very quiet. Third, the ancient music was nice. There was one at 10 o'clock and 3 o'clock every day. The people were very involved and moved. Fourth, the management was professional. There were staff on duty in each hall. The cultural creation of such a small temple was also very good! In short, five-star recommendation!

The ancestral temple of Wang Zhen, a eunuch in the Ming Dynasty, is a well-behaved small temple with a famous national intangible cultural heritage, which is the Zhihua Temple Jing Music. It is the oldest music. The music played by homemade instruments such as cymbals, pipes, and shengs is light and pleasant, bringing you into a quiet and empty Buddhist state. It is worth listening to.

Beijing's unique black glazed tile temple, coupled with the ancient music of the Ming Dynasty that has been passed down for nearly 600 years, is definitely a must-see for travelers to Beijing. Most importantly, the first 200 visitors every Wednesday are free of charge! The only drawback is that the temple is in a small alley, but I have introduced the detailed route in my travel notes, so you don't have to worry about finding it!