Tucked away in a remote corner of Fangshan, the capital city of Beijing, lies an ancient temple with a long history—Changle Temple. The temple is named after the village it is located in, and behind it stands the tomb of Wang An, a high-ranking eunuch from the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli period, as well as the nearby pagoda of Yao Guangxiao. Together, the temple, tombs, and pagodas stand as witnesses to the changes of time.
📜 The history of Changle Temple dates back to the Shouchang period of the Liao Dynasty (1095-1101). It was abandoned for a time but was rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty’s Chenghua period (1465-1487) by a eunuch who bought the land. In the Wanli period (1573-1620), the temple underwent further construction funded by another eunuch. The current main structure of the temple is largely from the Ming Dynasty. Changle Temple faces south, covering an area of 9,000 square meters, and still retains the mountain gate, along with the first and third halls, making it one of the few Liao-era temples in Fangshan District with a documented history.
🏞️ At the end of the street in front of the temple stand two stone gate towers. Despite enduring the ravages of time, they remain standing, though somewhat dilapidated. Initially, we planned to just take a few photos of the temple’s exterior and leave. However, curiosity led us to discover an iron gate beside the temple, prompting us to venture further.
🚪 The mountain gate appears a bit worn, supported by a single wooden pillar. The golden statues of the “He and Ha” warriors guard the entrance, and despite their age and the temple’s neglect, they still exude a sense of solemnity. Inside the temple, weeds grow freely, giving the place a forlorn atmosphere.
🙏 In the rear courtyard, we found a statue of a monk facing the main hall, radiating a dignified aura. I guessed this must be a statue of Yao Guangxiao, the famous monk. We had originally come looking for his tomb, but unexpectedly, we found him quietly resting deep within Changle Temple. As the sun set, the image of a monk and his temple meditating together, contemplating the meaning of life, filled my mind.
📖 The coincidences of history are often striking. In the stillness of Changle Temple, we could almost hear the echoes of the past, feeling the passage of time. Next time, we will continue to explore more stories of this ancient temple.
Phoenix Lee https://chinese-tradition.com/visiting-a-millennium-old-temple-the-tranquility-and-history-of-changle-temple.html