Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Prince’s Residence X Lama Temple: Yong He Gong 雍和宮

this is the residence of Emperor Yong Zheng

where he stayed until

he went on

succession of the throne

at the age of 44

 

simply because

Emperor Kang Xi was one of the

longest ruling king on the planet

for almost 60 years

 

Yong Zheng is in power for 13 years

until the sudden dead and

his son, Qian Long

who inherited the throne is

another long reigning Emperor

58 years on the throne

 

he could go on, yet

he stepped down so that

his Granddad preserved the title of

“Longest Reign”

 

so the wait was kinda long

for Yong Zheng

Yong He Gong therefore

witnessed loads strategic planning of

the ambitious yet low-profile Prince

 

His Mystery is a ardent follower of

Tibetan Buddhism

hence after he went on throne

the palace has been frequently used

for related functions and

 

has been officially transformed

into a Lama Temple

during the reign of his son

Emperor Qian Long 乾隆

Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮

 

the iconic Flying bridge

Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮

 

there are “3 Treasures” of the Lama Temple:

Bronze Bodhisattva Statutes, 銅鑄照佛

Yong He Temple 雍和宮三絕 Bronze Bodhisattva Statute, 銅鑄照佛  (xing20061221.blog.163.com)

 

Purple sandal wood craved

Mountain with 500 Arhats,

紫檀木雕的五百羅漢山

Yong He Temple 雍和宮三絕 Purple sandal wood craved Mountain with 500 Arhats 紫檀木雕的五百羅漢山  (www.kanzhongguo.com.au)

 

White sandal wood craved

Maitreya Buddha Statute

白檀香木雕刻彌勒佛像

Yong He Temple 雍和宮三絕 White sandal wood carved Maitreya Buddha Statute 白檀香木雕刻彌勒佛像. (visitbeijing.cn)

 

which I didn’t manage to capture

them all

haha sounds like Pokemon game, isn’t it

“gotta catch’em all”

except the first because

the photography policy is

real real strict here

you bet I don’t wanna get into trouble

 

I probably wouldn’t mind

paying another visit

provided that I have read up

more on Tibetan Buddhism

Yong He Temple 雍和宮 (www.chinapictorial.com.cn)

 

this is actually a hot spot for

Lunar New Year prayer

I read about

80,000 flooded in

on the first day of Lunar New Year?

*jaw dropped*

Yong He Temple 雍和宮 (www.dajiyuan.eu)

 

How to get here:

Beijing Subway

Line 2 (baby blue) / Line 5 (baby pink)

how sweet, right

Yong He Gong station 雍和宮

 

right across the street

is the Confucius Temple and

National Academic

Confucius Temple 孔廟 X National-Academic 國子監: Beijing 成賢街

 

therefore a half day trip will do

to cover the 3:

  • Confucius Temple 孔廟
  • National Academic 國子監
  • Yong He Gong Lama Temple 雍和宮