Beijing Puzhao Temple (Ancient Architecture, Liao Dynasty)

The Yexian Pagoda is located on Yexian Mountain, 4 km northeast of Miyun County. Originally, there was a Puzhao Temple, and the temple pagoda was called Yexian Pagoda, also known as "Yexian Pagoda Lamp." It is one of the Eight Outer Scenic Spots of Miyun. The Yexian Pagoda was first built in the eighth year of Chongxi in the Liao Dynasty (1039). The pagoda is about 8m tall and has an octagonal plane. The tower body is divided into upper and lower levels, each with an arched doorway facing south, surrounded by brick-carved fake windows and floral decorations. The base, body, and top of the pagoda are all made of brick carvings imitating wooden structures. In the forty-third year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1778), the Yexian Pagoda was renovated. In the fifteenth year of Guangxu (1889), the top of the pagoda was struck by lightning and later rebuilt. Although the pagoda has been renovated many times, its structure has always maintained the architectural style of the Liao Dynasty. It is said that when the eminent monk Ji Xiaotang was cultivating in the pagoda, strings of red lights often shone from the top of the pagoda at night, so the Yexian Pagoda was called the "Yexian Pagoda Lamp." Chongxi (1032–1055, also known as Chonghe or Chongxi) was the reign title of Emperor Xingzong of Liao (Yelü Zongzhen), lasting nearly 24 years. The year 1039 also coincided with the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty. Shi Jingtang, the emperor of the Later Jin Dynasty, ceded the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun in the north to the Khitan. Puzhao Temple was under the jurisdiction of Tanzhou, one of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, which is today's Miyun District. Buddhism in the Liao Dynasty flourished, especially with the support of the royal family. Almost all temples in the north today are relics of the Liao Dynasty. In the twenty-ninth year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1550), Altan Khan, the leader of the Tumd Mongols, led his troops to attack Beijing from Gubeikou. Altan Khan's troops freely looted and harassed the outskirts of the capital for eight days. It was during this period that Puzhao Temple was also burned down, an event historically known as the "Gengxu Incident." After being rebuilt, it was renamed "Puji Temple." (The first time it was destroyed by the Mongols.) In the forty-third year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1778), the Yexian Pagoda was renovated, and the couplets of the main hall of the South Sea Guanyin were built. In the fifteenth year of Guangxu (1889), the top of the pagoda was struck by lightning and later rebuilt (the second natural disaster). Although the pagoda has been renovated many times, its structure has always maintained the architectural style of the Liao Dynasty. This precious Liao pagoda was destroyed in 1967 in the name of "Destroying the Four Olds." In the autumn of 1988, the Beijing Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and the Miyun County Cultural Relics Management Institute began excavating the pagoda base. The excavation revealed that nothing remained above ground, and the underground palace was also scarred. More than 40 relatively complete ceramic artifacts were unearthed from the underground palace. The Puji Temple and Yexian Pagoda seen today were rebuilt in May 2009. Now, this is the Yexian Pagoda Tourist Scenic Area, mainly composed of the Yexian Pagoda, Puzhao Temple, and an amusement park.