Yonghegong is a famous lamasery located in the northeastern part of the old city of Beijing. It was a palatial residence built in 1694 by Qing Emperor Kangxi for his fourth son, Prince Yongzheng who later succeeded to the throne. This magnificent temple consists of five main buildings lying on the north-south axis, with annex halls standing on both sides. The temple is listed by the Chinese Government as one of the important historical monuments under special preservation.

After the death of his father, Emperor Yongzheng moved to the Forbidden City. The compound was closed to ordinary people and was renamed Yonghegong (the Palace of Harmony). Green roof tiles were replaced by yellow ones to suit a monarch's home. In 1744 his successor Emperor Qianlong converted the palace into a lamasery.

Several renovations have been carried out since 1949. The temple has taken on a new look and was reopened to the public in 1981. It is now not only a functional lama temple, but also a tourist attraction.

Yonghemen (The Gate of Harmony) 

It is actually a hall rather than a gate. Following the Buddhist tradition, the first hall in a lamasery is usually called the Maitreya's shrine or the Hall of Heavenly Kings. In this hall Maitreya always greets people with a smiling face.

He is known in China as the Big Belly Buddha. Legend has it that he was born l,000 years ago and became a monk in Yuelin Temple in Fenghua County, Zhejiang Province. He often went spreading Buddhism with a bag in his hand begging for food, so people usually called him the Bag Buddha. He is also known as the Laughing Buddha because he always smiles. It is said that before his death he was sitting on a piece of stone slab, telling people that he was the reincarnation of the Future Buddha Maitreya. According to what he said people called him Buddha Maitreya after his death.

On each side of Buddha Maitreya, there is a sandalwood pagoda. On the pagoda stand many small Buddhist images which were symbols of longevity. Hence, the Longevity Pagoda.
On both sides of Maitreya's shrine are seated four fearsome looking Heavenly Kings or Celestial Guardians, two on each side.

Yonghemen (The Gate of Harmony)

The Buddhist theory goes that the earth is divided into four worlds: northern, southern, eastern and western. Each of the four worlds is guarded by one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

The one with a sword is the Southern World Heavenly King named Zengzhang. When ghosts and monsters dare to step in, he chants an incantation and throws his magic sword up into the sky. In a flash the sword flies down like lightning, hitting, sometimes even killing the intruder.

Next to him sits Chiguo, the Eastern World Heavenly King, who plays a pipa, a 4-stringed Chinese lute. On the battlefield, he plucks the musical instrument and gives his enemy a headache. So he wins the battle.

Opposite to him is Duowen, the Northern World Heavenly King, who carries a huge umbrella. Whenever he puts up his umbrella, the sky over the battlefield turns dark and a cyclonic storm howls, sending sand and rocks whirling about. The eyesight of his rivals is sure to be impaired. Hardly has he shut up the umbrella when the rivals are drawn into it and arrested.

The one with a water snake is the Western World Heavenly King Guangmu. Once released, the snake mounts the clouds and rides the mists. All of a sudden, this animal spurts out water and disperses his enemy.

Weituo (Skanda) 

Behind the shrine of Maitreya stands the statue of Weituo facing backwards to a large courtyard. Because he made great contributions towards guarding the graveyard of Sakyamuni, he was appointed protector of Buddhism and ranked first among the 32 guardian generals. He holds in his hand a Monster-surrender Stick, named Vajra (a symbol of might), used for defeating and conquering evil spirits or devils.

At first, Weituo, together with the two generals Heng and Ha, and the four Heavenly Kings, were all supernatural generals who protected Buddhist doctrines. All of them took on the responsibility of guarding the Buddhist temples. However, each had his own work to do, Weituo, also known as Weituo Tian, or Weituo Buddhisattava, is one of the eight generals under the leadership of the "Southern World Heavenly King" named Zengzhang. Each of the Four Heavenly Kings had eight generals totalling 32 generals in all and Weituo ranked first among all the guarding generals. According to Buddhism, Buddha issued decrees that Weituo be responsible to protect those people who became monks and nuns and to shield and sustain Buddhist doctrines.

Weituo (Skanda) 

Weituo was regarded as Shen Xing Tai Bao and was good at flying over the ground. Buddhism says that after Tathagata (Buddha) was cremated, suddenly a fast-moving ghost stole Buddha's two teeth and escaped with them. After Weituo discovered this he was enraged and ran through the air after it. Although the ghost was moving fast and was very agile, he was no match for the fleet-footed Weituo and finally it was caught. Weituo took back the Buddha's teeth and thereafter, he was assigned the special job of guarding the graveyard of Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism.

After Buddhism was introduced to China about 2,000 years ago, Weituo with an Indian origin thoroughly changed his appearance and became an ancient Chinese military general. His statue is armed with a golden suit of armour. The statue shows him to be young, majestical-looking with martial bearing.

Bronze Incense Burner

This incense-burner was cast in 1748. It stands 4.2 metres high with six openings to let out flames. Above each opening two dragons playing with a pearl are cast in bas-relief, while on the pedestal a design with three lions contesting for a ball is portrayed. As one of the two bronze tripods of its kind ever found in China, this is really a treasure trove. The other one stands in the Imperial Garden in the Palace Museum.

This incense-burner was cast in 1748. It stands 4.2 metres high with six openings to let out flames. Above each opening two dragons playing with a pearl are cast in bas-relief, while on the pedestal a design with three lions contesting for a ball is portrayed. As one of the two bronze tripods of its kind ever found in China, this is really a treasure trove. The other one stands in the Imperial Garden in the Palace Museum.

Imperial Handwriting Pavilion 

In the pavilion there is a stone stele erected in 1792. On the stele are inscriptions in four languages: Manchu on the front side; Mongolian on the eastern side; Tibetan on the western side and on its back Han language written by Emperor Qianlong. It records the origin of Lamaism and the Emperor's attitude towards it. That's why the pavilion is called Imperial Handwriting Pavilion. The inscriptions are in four languages, so it is also known as the Pavilion of Four Languages.

Lamaism was quite popular in the Qing Dynasty. Lama means "teacher" or "superior being." At the very beginning only the monks on the top ranks were called lamas. Later it became an honorable title for all the monks.

Mount Sumeru (Mount Xumi)

Mount Sumeru, a Ming bronze sculpture, is a representation of the Buddhist world outlook. According to Buddhist tradition, Mount Sumeru is supposed to be the centre of the world. On the top of it lies the legendary paradise where Sakyamuni and men of moral integrity live after death. The position of the stars near the peak roughly corresponds to the findings of modern astronomy. On the slopes are the dwellings for mankind and the Heavenly Kings. At the bottom, the floral design stands for sea waves. Below the seas evil spirits, devils or criminals abide in Hell.

Four Study Halls

On either side of the courtyard are four subsidiary halls devoted to the lamas' studies of specialized subjects: medicine in the Medicine Hall; mathematics in the Mathematics Hall; esoteric in the Esoteric Hall; Buddhist philosophy in the Exoteric Hall. Twenty-six students of Tibetan and Mongolian nationalities were sent from Inner Mongolia, Qinghai and Liaoning. They came to study at Yonghegong Lamasery in spring, 198l and have taken part in Buddhist ceremonies. The youngest was 20 years old and the oldest 34. They all came from Buddhist families. The courses are: Tibetan language, the religious discipline of the Yellow Sect, the traditional sutras and religious rituals. Half of their time is spent in classroom studies and the rest in services in the compound. They follow monastic discipline and are expected to become successors to the elder lamas staffing the temple at present.

Yonghegong (The Hall of Harmony)

The second main hall is the Hall of Harmony, formerly a meeting place for Emperor Yongzheng. Buddhism has it that the second main hall is usually called Mahavira Hall, or Daxiongbaodian (the Great Temple of Powerful Treasure) in Chinese. Mahavira is an honorable title for Sakyamuni.

On the central altar are placed Buddhas of the Three Ages: Sakyamuni, Buddha of the Present in the middle, who created Buddhism about 2,500 years ago; Buddha of the Past Yeja, on the left; Buddha of the Future Maitreya on the right. In front of Sakyamuni are his two disciples, Ananda on the left, Mahakasyapa on the right. In the hands of some of the Buddhas are ribbons known as hada, a most precious gift to the Honorable.

Placed on the altar in front of the Buddhas of the Three Ages are the seven treasures: gold, silver, jade, pearl, sea shell, diamond, jadeite; and the eight magic weapons: the wheel of the law, the conch shell, the state umbrella, the canopy, the lotus flower, the covered vase, the pair of fishes and the endless knot. The top lamas are divided into three ranks; Buddha, Bodhisattva and Arhat.

On both sides of the hall stand eighteen Arhats. It is said that they were disciples of Sakyamuni and instructed by Sakyamuni to stay on earth to diffuse Buddhism if they wished to attain Buddhahood.

Here is a painting of Thousand-hand-and-eye Bodhisattva. It is said that he could see all the human bitterness and difficulties and help people to overcome them. That's why he has a thousand hands and eyes.

Yongyoudian (Hall of Eternal Blessing) 

The third main hall in the temple is Yongyoudian (Hall of Eternal Blessing. ) It used to be the bedroom for Emperor Yongzheng when he was still a prince, and the place where his coffin was kept before it was moved to the Western Qing Tombs. The present name of the building was given by his son, Emperor Qianlong, to show his eternal blessing. Emperor Qianlong came here frequently to offer sacrifices to his deceased father. Lamas came here to do Buddhist services.

In this building are three big Buddhas carved out of wood. On the left is the Buddha of Pharmacy who is the patron of medicine and cures diseases of all kinds. On the right is the Lion-roaring Buddha who preaches Buddhism and threatens devils and evil spirits with a loud voice that sounds like a lion roaring. In the middle is Buddha Amitayus or the Longevity Buddha, the founder of the legendary paradise. Buddhists believe that if they follow the method used by Amitayus to practise Buddhism they could enjoy long life and peace, and could be permitted to go to the legendary paradise after death. That's why they always say "Amitayus."

White Para and Green Para

There are two paintings on the walls, one on each side. The one in white colour is a painting of White Para; the other is Green Para, which is not a painting, but a piece of embroidery made by Emperor Qianlong's mother. According to the Buddhist theory, there are 2l Paras altogether. Paras are supposed to be the incarnations of Guanyin Bodhisattva who helps Sakyamuni save the suffering people on earth.

Falundian (Hall of the Wheel of the Law)

The fourth main hall in the temple is Falundian, the Hall of the Wheel of the Law, where the lamas assemble to say morning prayers, do services and carry out other religious activities. On display are some musical instruments.

Tsong Kha-pa (1417-1478)

In the centre of the hall is a huge gilded bronze statue of Tsong Kha-pa, founder of the Yellow Sect. He was born in Qinghai Province about 500 years ago and became a lama in Tibet when he was only 14 years old. Lamaism was divided into five sects : Red, Flowery, Black, White and Yellow.