WHITE CLOUD TEMPLE

There are few Taoist temples in Beijing nowadays. The most important of these is the white cloud temple located southwest of the city near the Muslim quarter.

History

Its history, like that of many Chinese monuments, is quite upset. It originated in the Tang era. He became under the Mongols the center of Taoism in northern China. It was there that a very famous Taoist monk of Shandong province, Chang Chun came to finish his days, and then came by far to worship his statue erected in the temple. The building served as a factory during the Cultural Revolution and was restored in the 1980 s before being rehabilitated and allowed to re-host some forty Taoist monks, which are easily distinguished from their high round thighs on their head. The buildings were restored again in 2000, making them look like new buildings today…

Visit

Similar to many others in its structure, this temple is built on a south-north axis and presents a succession of courses and halls.

Before crossing the front door, you will have to pass under some kind of arch, to get into the first court, in the heart of which is the chamber of ministers of the Celestial Censorship.

On either side, the tower of the Cloche and the tower of the drum, as the tradition in Buddhist temples dictates.

At the bottom of the second courtyard stands the Emperor's room of Jade (Yuhuangdian), supreme divinity of Taoism, guarded at the entrance by a superb bronze scent of the age Wan-Li (1600). Inside the hall, a statue of the emperor of Jade, framed by two servants.

Artificial fisheries in offering, and crane embroidered banners are symbols of longevity among Taoists. In the past, statues were found against walls, but today they were replaced with recent painless paintings.

The Religious Law Room is at the bottom of the third court. There are statues of saints and tables of offerings, with musical instruments and sacred books.

The fourth court delivers the room of the ancestor Qiu, dedicated to Chang Chun, whose statue is exhibited among others.

In the middle of the fifth courtyard stands the palace of the Four Yu (if Yu Dian), whose name is inspired by Taoist divinities, and where one can admire quality statues. On the first floor of this palace are three statues of divinities, both on the sides bearing the signs of yin and yang. This is where the Taoism manuscripts are kept.

Leaving the fifth courtyard, passing near the library to arrive in a traditional garden, Jie Tai, adorned with rocals, with a small pavilion serving as a chair to an old one whose teaching was heard.

At the base of the pavilion, small spaces are arranged to respect the isolation of certain ascetes that used to fasten there.