The Zhi Hua Temple is one of Beijing's more unusual Temples. It was built in the year 1443 AD during the early years of the Ming Dynasty when Eunuchs held powerful posts throughout the Imperial Government. One such Eunuch, Wang Zheng, made a High Career and eventually erected what is now the Zhi Hua Temple as the private Family Shrine. Unfortunatly for him, Wang Zheng was later executed and the Temple was confiscated along with all Family property by the Imperial Family. Thus it became the Zhi Hua Temple.
The Temple is unexpectedly large reflecting the large sums Wang Zheng had at his command, and consists of three courtyards. Surrounding the front courtyard alone are 7 buildings. In the middle section stands the Hall of the Tagatha Buddha.
The hinter section of the Temple culminates in the Hall of ten thousand buddha's and Dabei Hall holding what is known as the Dragon Scriptures.
The Zhi Hua Temple is the single and unique depository of a collection of printing blocks which could be used to reproduce otherwise lost Buddhist Scriptures. The printing blocks were made on Imperial Decree during the early Ming Dynasty and are regarded its number one treasure.
A second marvel of the Temple is its rare and unusual style of Music. Carrying forth the spirit of its original founder, the Music is a rare combination of traditional buddhist chants and the (then) 'modern' influence of Ming Dynasty court music, so loved by Wang Zheng. Wang introduced his own music to the Buddhist Temple. In the following period both distinct music styles fused into what is known as the unique sounds of the ZhiHua Temple, known in Beijing as 'The Capital Music of Zhihua Temple'.
Music is sold at the Temple gift shop along with postcards and other interesting items.
Lumicang (Hutong),
West of ChaoyangMen,
Dongcheng District.
