Lamasery of Harmony and Peace [antikvár]

Foreword Yonghegong (Lamasery of Harmony and Peace) in the northeastern corner of Beijing overlooks the city moat and Altar of the Earth Park across the Second Ring Road in the north and is adjacent to the Cypress Wood Temple in the east and the Confucian Temple and the former Imperial College in the west. Yonghegong is a famous temple of Tibetan Buddhism. Built in 1694. the 33rd year of Emperor Kangxi, it was originally the residence of Yongzheng, the third emperor of the Qing dynasty, before he came to the throne. In 1725. three years after Yongzheng was enthroned, it became the emperor's secondary palace and was given the present name of Yonghegong. In 1744, the ninth year of Emperor Qianlong, it was converted into a lamasery. There are altogether 1134 rooms in the temple buildings, totalling 23131.8 sejuare metres in floor space. The courtyards along the central axis are progressively reduced in size from the south to the north while the buildings rise progressively higher, giving people an enigmatic impression, the impression of a place "where dragons and phoenixes gather." The principal structures in Yonghegong include three elegant archways and five magnificent halls, which are named the Gate of Harmony and Peace (Yonghemen). Hall of Harmony and Peace (Yonghegong Dian), Hall of Eternal Blessings (Yongyoudian). Hall of the Dharma Wheel (Falundian) and Pavilion of Infinite Happiness (Wanfuge). There are alsó two side halls (the East and West Side Halls) and the Four Halls of Learning (Scripture-Lecturing Hall, Esoteric Hall, Mathematics Hall and Bhaisajya Hall) as well as the Initiation Tower and Panchen's Tower. In architectural style, the buildings and structures combine into one the styles of palace and temple buildings and the architectural features of the Manchu, Han, Mongolian and Tibetan peoples. This is most prominent in the Hall of the Dharma Wheel and the Pavilion of Infinite Happiness. The former has five dormer windows in the roof and five gilded pinnacles, which are richly characteristic of the temples of Tibetan Buddhism and the architecture of the Tibetan people. The latter has "overhead passages" on either side of the second floor, which are characteristic of the buildings of the Liao and Kin period (907-1234). As very few of this kind of structures are still in existence, they are rare architectural masterpieces. Preserved in Yonghegong is a rich collection of cultural relics, particularly those relatcd to Tibetan Buddhism. In addition to the large number of vividly sculptured Buddhist statues, each different in posture and expression, there are alsó a large collection of Tibetan-style paintings known as Tangka paintings, murals, seriptures and religious instruments and vessels. The inseriptions on the stelae and boards, the paintings and calligraphic works, decorations and ornaments in the lamasery are alsó of very high cultural and historical value. The Hill of Five Hundred Arhats carved in red sandalwood, the Buddha's shrine carved in golden-striped Namu hardwood and the giant 18-metre-high Maitreya carved in white sandalwood are known as the three masterpieces of wood carving in Yonghegong. Religious activities in Yonghegong are undertaken strictly according to the regulations and disciplines of Tibetan Buddhism. In the early morning every day, all the lamas are to dress in religious robes and assemble in the Hall of the Dharma Wheel to pray and read seriptures. Religious activities and prayer services are alsó held in Ihe Hall of the Dharma Wheel on religious festivals and memóriái days. The Evil-Dispatching Ceremony is held in Yonghegong every year between the 29th day of the first lunar month and the first day of the second lunar month in the courtyard in front of the Devaraja Hall (Gate of Harmony and Peace) when lamas, wearing exotic clothes and masks, perform religious dances. There are nearly 100 lamas in Yonghegong. Most of tliem are Mongolians. A small number are Tibetans and Tu people from Qinghai. Buddhist religious aflairs in Yonghegong are supervised by the Temple's Administrative Coinmittee förmed by lamas and with the posts of abbot and supervisors on the committee. The present abbot is Kabuyang Tubudan, a Mongolian high lama who has a Gesi academic degree. Yonghegong has received the close concern of the Chinese government and is frequented by both Chinese and foreign tourists. It was listed by the State Council as a major national cultural and historical sile under state protection in 1961 and was open to the public as a site for religious activities in 1981. In the 20 and more years, Yonghegong has been visited by heads of state and government leaders from more than 100 countries and regions and more than 25 millión Chinese and foreign tourists from all the five continents. In step with China's reform and opening to the outside world, Yonghegong will become an unusual gem in the Buddhist culture of the world, shining with even more lustrous brilliance.