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Fayuan Temple, located in the Fayuansi Back Street, 
Xuanwu District, is the oldest existing temple in the city proper of Beijing. It was first built in the early Tang Dynasty, and called Minzhong Temple at mat time, and renamed as Shuntian Temple during Anshi Rebellion, and renamed again as Chongfu Temple in the 2nd year under the reign of Zheng I Tong of the Ming Dynasty (1437). In the 12th year I under the reign of Yong Zheng of the Qing Dynasty (1734), it was determined as a temple of the Luzong sect of Buddhism, and officially named as Fayuan Temple.
In the 43rd year under the reign of Qian Long of the Qing Dynasty (1778), Fayuan Temple was rebuilt again under imperial order. After the reconstruction finished, Emperor Qian Long once visited the temple, and wrote the "Source of Buddhism" and gave it to Fayuan Temple. Now, the tablet engraved with the inscription is still hung on the Mahavira (Grand Lord) Hall.
Fayuan Temple, facing the south, is arranged in an 
axisymmetrical pattern with seven halls and six courtyards. Main structures include Main Gate, Bell & Drum Towers, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira (Grand Lord) Hall, Great Compassion Altar, Sutra Pavilion, Minzhong Platform and so on. They are the oldest existing temple buildings in the city proper of Beijing. Minzhong Platform, also called Prayer Chanting Platform and Guanyin (Buddha) Hall, has a unique structure with 12 posts as the frame of wall, and 12 posts for indoor support. Its style is similar to that of Wanchun Pavilion (Pavilion of Ten Thousands Springs) in the Imperial Garden of Forbidden City, where stone carvings and sutra pillars of past dynasties are on display. Usually, the inscriptions on the steles and tablets were written from right to left in ancient time. However, the inscription on the stele of Paean to Pagoda was written from left to right. It is an exceptional example. Now, Fayuan Temple is the headquarters of The Chinese Buddhist Academy and the, Buddhist Books and Culture Relics Museum of China, and is a national key Buddhist temple.
| Chinese Name: | 法源寺 |
|---|---|
| Address: |
No.7 Fayuan Si Qianjie Street (near Niu Street within Guang'an Gate), Xuanwu District, Beijing 北京市宣武区法源寺前街七号(近广安门内牛街) |
| Ticket Price: | RMB 5 |
| Opening Hours: | 8:30～11:30; 13:00～15:30 (except Wednesday) |
| Transport: |
1.Take subway line 4 or line 7 and get off at Caishikou station. Leave from Exit D and walk south algon the Caishikou Street. Upon reach intersection of Caishikou Street and Nanheng Xi Street, turn west to reach the temple. The walking distance is approximately 1,000 yards (900 meters).
2.Take bus no.53, 133, or Line Special 13 or 30, get off at Jiaozi Hutong South Exit (教子胡同南口)，and then walk east nearly 120 yards (110 metres).
3.Take bus no. .10, 48, 88 or 717, get off at Niujie Mosque. Upon arrival, walk south to the intersection of Niujie Street and Nanheng Xi Street and turn east to reach the temple. The walking distance is approximately 600 yards (550 meters).
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