Dule Temple

After returning from Shanxi, I couldn't stop thinking about the ancient Liao architecture. After checking the information, I found that two of the eight great Liao structures are located within an hour's drive from Beijing, so I decisively planned the trip and set off immediately. Transportation 1. Self-driving: About an hour and a half around Beijing, there might be a slight traffic jam near Dule Temple if you come later. 2. Train: There are not as many trains as the usual intercity ones, so it's advised to plan ahead. There are two direct trains from Beijing at 7 am, one high-speed and one regular, with about half an hour difference in travel time, so you can choose for yourself. There are fewer trains for the return journey, and you have to wait until 4 pm for the high-speed train. (Note: Jizhou Station is actually further from the city center than Jizhou North Station, which is different from most cities) 3. Bus: There are quite a few trips back and forth between Sihui and Jizhou Bus Station, which can be checked on the WeChat mini-program 'Passenger Transport World'. Since I was traveling alone and public transport was convenient, I didn't choose to drive. I took the high-speed train C131 at 6:52 am, arriving at Dule Temple just after 8 am to avoid the peak of the crowd. Then I visited and took the bus back at noon. Eat To get to Dule Temple earlier, I only had some dry food in the morning. At around 10 am, I went to the popular online 'Sangzi Doupi Breakfast', located on the road from Dule Temple to White Pagoda Temple. It's only a few hundred meters away, within walking distance. The way of eating Doupi with fried dough is indeed new to me, and it felt okay, but it wasn't exceptionally delicious. Dule Temple 1. If you have no understanding of ancient architecture, it's suggested to do some homework. For example, the difference between Liao Dynasty architecture and Ming-Qing architecture (which is mostly seen in Beijing). Moreover, Dule Temple was also the first stop of Liang Sicheng's field survey of ancient buildings. 2. Although I have seen it countless times in books and videos, standing under the mountain gate and looking up at the huge dougong and flying eaves inherited from the late Tang Dynasty still deeply moved me. 3. Like the Wooden Pagoda in Ying County, Dule Temple's dougong does not have bird nets. You can see birds flying around, chirping, adding a lot of vitality to this thousand-year-old temple. Just staying there quietly for a while is also very beautiful. Other 1. The White Pagoda Temple happened to be freshly painted after maintenance, which was a bit too white. However, it's not too far away, so you can visit it if you have time. 2. As for the Lu Ban Temple and the Confucian Temple, since I have visited similar buildings in Beijing more often and the feedback online is generally average, I didn't go. 3. The overall urban construction of Jizhou is quite old, but once you enter the tourist area, it suddenly becomes 'textured'. This is very similar to the Wooden Pagoda in Ying County.

The Dule Temple is one of the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units announced by the State Council, and one of the three most completely preserved Liao Dynasty temples in China. Its mountain gate, Guanyin Pavilion, and the eleven-faced Guanyin statue are considered to be peerless artistic treasures. Guanyin Pavilion The Guanyin Pavilion, rebuilt in the second year of the Tonghe era of the Liao Dynasty (984), is the oldest existing wooden structure pavilion in China. The pavilion is five bays wide and four bays deep, with a total height of 23 meters, three floors, and a hip-and-gable roof. The design of the Guanyin Pavilion is ingenious, with the entire structure built around the central giant Guanyin statue. Twenty-eight columns form two concentric circles, connected by beams and brackets to form a whole, giving the building tremendous earthquake resistance. The brackets, due to different positions and functions, come in twenty-four styles, making the architecture even more imposing and magnificent. The Guanyin Pavilion currently preserves three historical plaques: 'Guanyin's Pavilion' written by the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai, 'Pumen Fragrant Realm' written by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, and 'Fully Accomplished' written by Emperor Xianfeng of the Qing Dynasty. Guanyin Pavilion Statues In the center of the Guanyin Pavilion, on the Sumeru pedestal, stand three Liao Dynasty statues. The main statue, known as the eleven-faced Guanyin due to the ten small Buddha heads on its crown plus the main face, is 16.08 meters high and is the largest existing clay standing statue in China. There are two angles to view the Guanyin statue. One is to stand in the main hall and look up, where the majesty of the statue and the ingenuity of the building structure, especially the right hand of Guanyin that is raised, become apparent. When the light is good, the hand appears particularly bright, as if bathed in light, which is quite magical. However, from this angle, it is impossible to see the ten faces on the crown and the facial expressions. The other angle is to stand at the mountain gate and look up at the Guanyin Pavilion, where, if your eyesight is good, you can see the eyes of Guanyin. The two flanking bodhisattva statues are 3.2 meters high, dressed in armor, with dynamic and graceful standing poses, and lively and vivid modeling. All three statues inherit the style of the Tang Dynasty and possess Liao Dynasty characteristics, with superb artistic levels, and are considered the pinnacle of Liao Dynasty clay sculpture. The right hand of the bodhisattva on the left side is a later restoration. Since photography is not allowed, the two flanking bodhisattva statues in the picture were taken from outside the gate. Guanyin Pavilion Murals The murals in the Guanyin Pavilion were painted during the Yuan Dynasty and repainted in the Ming Dynasty. The murals are 3.15 meters high, 45.35 meters long, and cover a total area of 142.85 square meters. The murals mainly depict the sixteen Buddhist arhats and two Ming kings, interspersed with Buddhist myths, secular themes, and portraits of believers who sponsored the restoration. The painting technique primarily uses 'iron line drawing' with some 'orchid leaf drawing', outlining and filling in colors, with appropriate shading, resulting in accurate character modeling and smooth lines. The arhats and Ming kings on the four walls surround the central eleven-faced Guanyin statue, forming a solemn and respectful Buddhist world, reflecting the painter's clever conception and artistic skill. The murals in the picture were taken from outside the door, and the two Ming king images were not captured due to the angle. Reclining Guanyin The Reclining Guanyin is a Ming Dynasty statue, sitting in a half-crossed, reclining posture facing north. Behind Guanyin hangs a colorful Sumeru Mountain, with a giant dragon dancing in the sea below, and Guanyin sitting in the center of the sea island, with a leisurely and composed expression. On either side of the Reclining Guanyin are the red-faced Guan Yu and the white-faced Wei Tuo, both wearing helmets and armor, each suspended on the two rear golden columns of the Guanyin Pavilion. The Guanyin and the two generals were also photographed with a zoom lens from the doorway. Mountain Gate The statues of the Heng Ha Er Jiang and the murals of the Four Heavenly Kings at the mountain gate are also worth seeing, and you can take photos freely here, no one cares.

Dule Temple, also known as the Great Buddha Temple, is located in Jizhou District, Tianjin, China. It is one of the three remaining Liao Dynasty temples in China, and also one of the famous ancient buildings that still exist today. Although Dule Temple is a millennium-old famous temple, its history is quite vague, with origins that are untraceable. The earliest history of the temple can be traced back to the tenth year of the Zhenguan period (636 AD). Dule Temple covers a total area of 16,000 square meters. The two oldest existing buildings within the temple, the Mountain Gate and the Guanyin Pavilion, were both rebuilt in the second year of the reign of Emperor Shengzong of the Liao Dynasty (984 AD). In the nineteenth year of the Republic of China (1930), Dule Temple became famous both domestically and internationally after being successively investigated and published by Japanese scholar Sekino Tadashi and Chinese scholar Liang Sicheng.

This off-the-beaten-path destination awaits your exploration. 🚗 Transportation ⚠️ Jizhou North Station is closer to Dule Temple than Jizhou Station. 🚆 🏡 Attractions 📍Dule Temple Ticket Price: 33 💰 Combo Ticket: 50 💰 (includes Dule Temple, White Pagoda Temple, Luban Temple, and Confucian Temple) Dule Temple is one of the three remaining Liao Dynasty temples in China, with plaques provided by Yan Song and Li Bai. Don't forget to check out the Dule Ci Tea across the street, where the milk tea is very special, and the owner is chatty and adorable. 😝 📍White Pagoda Temple Ticket Price: 5 💰 Not far from Dule Temple, you can walk to it after visiting the White Pagoda Temple. 🚶 📍Xijingyu Cultural Village Also known as the Stone Village, it features many characteristic stone houses and alleys, great for photography. 📸 📍Mars Coffee Landing Project This camp is built on an abandoned quarry, where you can rent astronaut costumes for photos. 📸 However, if you're not specifically here for photography, it might not be necessary. 🙅‍♂️ 📍Yuyang Ancient Street Down the road from Dule Temple, a small ancient street with a night market in the evening, one of the more characteristic night markets in Jizhou, worth a visit for lots of tasty food. 😋😋 🍩 Specialty Foods ✔️ Sangzi Bean Slice Breakfast (White Pagoda Temple branch) ❤️ Specialties: Bean skin roll with fried dough, sesame chicken egg Near Dule Temple, you can have breakfast at this shop in the morning 🥪 before heading to Dule Temple. Their bean skin roll with fried dough is unique, with only the saltiness of the bean skin, and the sesame chicken egg tastes like homemade salted eggs. Worth a try if you haven't had it before. ✔️ Jizhou Banquet (Dule Temple branch) ❤️ Specialties: Chive paste pancake ✔️ Old Ma's Mutton Soup Across the street from Dule Temple ✔️ Buckwheat Bowl Holders Available at every shop, the taste is more or less the same, with generous servings of sesame sauce, sesame sauce lovers should give it a try 👍

After passing through the mountain gate, the Guanyin Pavilion is right in the courtyard. The Guanyin Pavilion was originally built during the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in the Liao Dynasty. It has three floors inside and two layers of flying eaves on the outside, with a harmonious blend of complexity and simplicity. The structure is entirely made of wood. The plaque 'Guanyin's Pavilion' was inscribed by the poet Li Bai. In the center of the pavilion stands a 16-meter-tall statue of Guanyin, with flowing ribbons and a head that reaches the ceiling. The caisson ceiling of the pavilion is also the earliest surviving architectural caisson. The surrounding murals were first painted during the Yuan Dynasty and repainted in the Ming Dynasty, with loose lines and lifelike expressions. ... The biggest eyesore is the bored security guard at the door who starts yelling whenever he sees a tourist lift their phone, claiming that photography is not allowed inside the pavilion My buddy immediately retorted: Even the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City doesn't care 😃😃😃

On a sunny weekend, after a hundred kilometers drive, Dule Temple in Jixian, one of the oldest wooden buildings from the Liao Dynasty in China, was mentioned by the architectural historian Liang Sicheng in 'A Study of the Guanyin Pavilion and Mountain Gate of Dule Temple in Jixian': 'The Guanyin Pavilion and the Mountain Gate of Dule Temple in Jixian were both rebuilt in the second year of the reign of Emperor Shengzong of the Liao Dynasty, which is 948 years ago from today (the 21st year of the Republic of China), making it the oldest wooden building discovered in our country. In terms of the era, it inherits the legacy of the Tang Dynasty and initiates the construction style of the Song Dynasty. It is indeed an important material for the study of the evolution of Chinese architecture, a rare treasure indeed.' Entering the Dule Temple from the small gate on the west side, the first thing you see is the Mountain Gate. The ridge of the gate is shaped like a flying pheasant. At the entrance, there are colored clay statues of the powerful Vajra warriors from the Liao Dynasty, tall and majestic. Two major highlights: The top of the Mountain Gate is the earliest existing Wu Dian style roof; The pair of kiss beasts on both sides of the ridge are also the earliest in history. The Liao Dynasty's murals and the clay sculptures of the Heng Ha Er Jiang, the romance and vicissitudes of life are intermingled in the mottled...

Three major temples of the Liao Dynasty: Huayan Temple in Datong, Shanxi, Dule Temple in Jizhou, Tianjin, Fengguo Temple in Yixian, Liaoning. Due to the deep influence of the Tang and Song Dynasties, the royal family of the Liao Dynasty believed in Buddhism and built Buddhist buildings all over the country. After nearly a thousand years of historical washing, the preserved Liao Dynasty temples are rare. The above three major Liao Dynasty temples are the only ones left in China. Dule Temple was first built in the tenth year of Tang Taizong's Zhenguan era (AD 636) and rebuilt in the second year of the Liao Dynasty's Tonghe era (AD 984). There are three theories about the origin of the name of Dule Temple. The first one is that the name was taken from the homophonic sound of 'Duli', because the internal support of the Guanyin statue is a towering pear tree; the second one is that Buddhists are pure-minded and desireless, strictly observe the precepts, and take the salvation of all beings as their joy, hence the name Dule Temple; the third one is that An Lushan rebelled against the Tang Dynasty and swore his troops here, because he wanted to be the emperor, 'thinking of enjoying alone and not sharing joy with the people', hence the name of the temple, the last theory is the most widely spread. Dule Temple has three 'firsts' in China: it has the oldest temple gate with a pavilion roof; it has the oldest multi-storey pavilion with a wooden structure, the Guanyin Pavilion; and the Guanyin statue in the Guanyin Pavilion is the oldest and tallest painted clay Buddha statue in China. In addition, the plaques of Dule Temple written by Yan Song and the plaques of Guanyin Pavilion written by Li Bai are all highlights. Dule Temple is not big, but so many 'firsts' in China and the amazing highlights are very rare. Standing in front of the ancient temple of a thousand years, feeling the exquisite ancient Chinese architecture, Dule Temple is really worth the trip!