Heavenly Peace Temple is located at Guang’anmen. The most outstanding feature of the temple is the Buddhist pagoda which was one of the highest buildings in the ancient capital and a valuable memento of the Liao dynasty. An octagonal brick-structured of eaves, was erected on a square platform. All the Buddhist statues, doors, windows, rafters and pillars are exquisitely carved in relief in imitation of wood. Even looking closely, one can hardly tell them from real wooden carvings.
Heavenly Peace Temple was first built during the reign of Emperor Yanxing of the Northern Wei dynasty when it was called Bright Woods Temple. It has changed its name several times, to Expanding Cause Temple, Heavenly King Temple, and Great Peace Buddhist Temple, and got its present name in 1435. A 60-meter-high pagoda was added to the temple in the Liao dynasty (907-1125).
The bottom of the pagoda is in the form of a huge Sumeru pedestal. Three layers of huge lotus petals carved on the pedestal support the first storey of the pagoda. On the four sides of the first story, facing the four directions. are relief sculptures of heavenly guardians and arched gates.
Above are thirteen levels of eaves, very close to each other. with no doors or windows. It is a typical pagoda of the Liao and Jin periods. The eaves diminish in size as they progress upward, giving the pagoda a slight scroll shape. The pagoda is solid, without stairs inside or outside. The structure and shape of the pagoda have remained the same since it was built, though repairs have been made over the years.
The late celebrated Chinese architect Liang Sicheng praised the design of the pagoda as having musical rhythm and a masterpiece of ancient architectural design. Heavenly Peace Temple was renovated in 2002 and it was opened as as a site to hold religious activities in July,2007.
---------------------------------------------------------------Author: AmoyTrip.com--Heavenly Peace Temple
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