Miaoying Temple

Miaoying Temple, commonly called White Dagoba Temple because of a White Dagoba in the temple, is located in Fuchengmen Inner Street, Xicheng District. The White Dagoba is the oldest and largest existing Tibet-style Buddhist stupa in China, and remains as a witness of the once resplendence region of Dadu during the Yuan Dynasty. It is a national cultural heritage under special protection.

Miaoying Temple was first built in the 8th year under the reign of Zhi Yuan of the Yuan Dynasty (1271), and burnt down in the 28th year under the reign of 2W Zheng of the Yuan Dynasty (1368), and rebuilt in the 8th year under the reign of Xuan De of the Ming Dynasty (1433). Most existing buildings of the temple were rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. The only survival of Yuan Dynasty is the White Dagoba. The temple is composed of the White Dagoba and four halls.

The White Dagoba was designed by the Nepalese architect Anigo with the style of Indian stupa. The bottom of the dagoba is a three-layered seat. The body appears to resemble an upside-down ice cream cone which makes it an interesting construction. Near the top is a solid canopy made of beaten bronze above and thick wood at the bottom, which is well supported by a number of iron chains. The dagoba is topped by another small stupa. Small Buddhist characters and tetanies adom the borders as well as wind-chimes, which transmit a clear and pleasant chime carried along in the breeze.

During repair of the White Dagoba in 1978, a number of treasures stored in its golden head in the 18th year under the reign of Qian Long of the Qing Dynasty (1745) was disclosed, including a set of Chinese Buddhist surras, a wooden statue of Guanyin Buddha, a cassock embroidered with flowers, a crown Inlaid with five Buddha statues, Paramita Hridaya Sutra transcribed by Emperor Qian Long, three copper statues of the Buddha of the Past, Present and Future and so on.