On the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Guangji Temple
Guangji Temple, one of the famous ancient temples in Beijing, is located in the Xicheng District. It is currently the site of the Buddhist Association of China and a key national cultural heritage site. It has a long history and a wealth of cultural relics, enjoying a high reputation and wide influence in the Buddhist community both in China and abroad.
Guangji Temple was founded during the Jin Dynasty, originally named Xiliucun Temple. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was renamed Baohongji Temple, and the abbot was the Zen Master Wansong Xingxiu. Next to the temple, the Wansong Laoren Pagoda still exists. The Zen Master wrote more than twenty significant works in the Congrong An of the temple, including the famous 'Congrong Lu', which had a profound impact on the world. By the end of the Yuan Dynasty, Guangji Temple was destroyed by war.
During the Jingtai period of the Ming Dynasty (1450—1456), relics such as ceramic Buddha statues, porcelain offerings, stone turtles, and stone column capitals were unearthed, revealing the site of the ancient temple. At the beginning of the Tianshun period (1457—1464), the monk Pu Hui from Shanxi, along with his disciple Yuan Hong and others, came here on a pilgrimage and vowed to revive the ancient temple. Aware of the enormity of the task, they felt that success would not come easily. Liao Ping, who was in charge of the emperor's regalia, had the wish to build a temple to worship Buddha. He was overjoyed to learn about this and, with his strong support, a magnificent Buddhist temple emerged from the ground in just two years. Liao Ping then reported this to Emperor Xianzong, who decreed in the second year of the Chenghua period (1466) to name it 'Hongci Guangji Temple'.
During the Qing Dynasty, Guangji Temple's reputation grew even stronger. Emperors such as Shunzhi, Kangxi, and Qianlong visited the temple, leaving behind many poems and anecdotes. Puyi, the last emperor, also visited Guangji Temple.
During the Republic of China, military and political officials, wealthy merchants, and literati frequented the temple, and Dr. Sun Yat-sen also gave a speech here.
In 1931, Guangji Temple was accidentally destroyed by fire, with the main halls suffering extensive damage.
In 1935, with the support of people like Wu Peifu, the abbot Xianming rebuilt the temple according to the Ming Dynasty layout, making it even more magnificent than before.
After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the temple received attentive care from the people's government. In 1952, the government allocated funds for a comprehensive renovation.
On June 3, 1953, the Buddhist Association of China was established in Beijing, with Guangji Temple as its headquarters. Since then, Guangji Temple has become the center of Buddhism in China, a place of aspiration for Buddhist believers nationwide. Over the years, Buddhist leaders and delegations from around the world have visited Guangji Temple continuously, bringing the friendship of the Buddhist communities from various countries, and Guangji Temple has played an important role in promoting China's civil diplomacy.