Xizhao Temple, a key protected cultural relic in Chongwen District, is situated in Xizhao Temple Middle Street, Beijing. This temple, facing south, is composed of several structures including the mountain gate, Mahavira Hall, Dabei Hall, abbot’s courtyard, and a brick pagoda located in the backyard. There is a stone plaque on the mountain gate hall inscribed with ‘Ancient Site Xizhao Temple’.
The temple has two main halls. The front hall consists of three rooms, while the back hall is known as the Dabei Hall. South of Guangqumen Avenue in Beijing lies Xizhao Temple Street, which derives its name from the Xizhao Temple itself.
During the orthodox years of the Ming Dynasty, Yu Qian, the minister of war, visited the temple. The monk Puluang requested Yu Qian to compose a poem for the ‘Central Pagoda Picture’, a painting by his master, Ancient and Ingenious Jun Zen Master. Yu Qian’s poetic contributions were later included in volume 38 of the ‘Three Rare Hall Shiqu Baotie’, which was engraved during the Qianlong period.
The cultural treasures of Xizhao Temple include the ‘Ancient Pine Picture’ on the west wall of the Dabei Hall, painted by the artist Chen Shoushan in 1775 (the 40th year of Qianlong), and the running grass calligraphy of Wang Ankun on the east wall, which is an ode to Shen Yue’s ‘Ode to Tall Pines’ from the Liang Dynasty, accompanied by a postscript. These works, the ‘Ancient Pine Picture’ and ‘Ode to Tall Pines’, are preserved at the Beijing Cultural Relics Research Institute.Our establishment is open daily from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM throughout the year.
