Traditional Chinese religion often took heroes and important figures and deified them in city temples. And, with the strong roots of filial piety in Confucian thought and Chinese culture, emperors were honored as fathers of the nation. The Temple of … Continued
One of my favorite museums in Beijing, the Beijing Stone Carving Art Museum is delightful! On the site of the Zhenjue Temple, this museum uses the temple as the central part of its collection. It was built during the 15th … Continued
Massive colorful halls. Sweeping pointed eaves. Elaborate colorful woodwork and detailed stone carvings. Buddhist. Taoist. Traditional Chinese. Islamic. Peaceful meditative sanctuaries. Fragrant smoky air. These are just a few ways to describe the magnificent and diverse temples of Beijing that … Continued
Many of the Beijing temples I’ve visited are now museums or significant historical sites. However, the Western Yellow Temple is an active lamasery. The emperor built Xihuangsi in the 17th century to honor the visit of the Panchen Lama to … Continued
Xiannongtan or the Altar of Agriculture is one of Beijing’s ancient imperial altars where the emperor would perform sacrificial rites and ceremonies. As I wrote about before, this altar lies at the southern end of the Dragon Line on the … Continued
Beijing, as a capital city of some kind for more than 1,000 years, has been a locus for people from all over China and all walks of life to descend upon. As part of this influence, religious peoples too have … Continued
Beijing has been a capital city for more than 1,000 years. Purposefully placed imperial structures including temples and sacrificial altars dot the urban landscape. There were, in the day, nine Beijing imperial altars. Today, not all remain or are open … Continued
Recently, I’ve been visiting temples all over Beijing, Buddhist temples, Taoist temples, a mosque, etc. Dazhongsi or the Great Bell Temple is just a mile from where I’ve lived for the last three years. I attempted visiting before, but it … Continued
The Fangshan District of Beijing is rich with history! In addition to the Peking Man Site, my recent trip to the southwestern district of Beijing included a visit to the Yunju Temple. A temple has been on this site for … Continued
Confucius said many things that have been passed down for thousands of years and continue to influence daily life in China. In Beijing, the Confucius Temple reminds visitors of his significant impact on Chinese culture and philosophy. It is the … Continued