Beijing: Biyun Temple

Biyun Temple was the first stop of my Beijing Xian tour. Located in east foot of Jubao Mountain, north of Xingshan Park, Haidian District, Beijing City, Biyun Temple is a well-preserved temple of garden-style. Built in Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), it has a history of 600 hundred years. It has been said it was the former site of the belvedere of the sixth emperor in Jin Dynasty, Emperor Zhangzong, and is originally named “Biyun Nunnery”.

During the 11th year of Zhengde Reign in the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644), Yu Jing, a eunuch of the Imperial Stable took a fancy to this place and thought it as land with good geomantic omen. He expanded Biyun Temple with tax revenue and ill-gotten money from the emperor. And he built his grave behind the temple, with a pines planted on the grave. Therefore, local people call it as “Yugong Temple(“gong” is a respect word which means Mr)”. Later, Yu Jing was put into jail and died in prison due to his greed, and his wish of being buried in Biyun Temple failed.

During the third year of Tianqi Reign in the Ming Dynasty, the eunuch Wei Zhongxian fancied this place and expanded the Biyun Temple again. He enlarged the original grave by Yu Jing and intended to use it as his own grave, but five years later, he was found guilty and died in his boots. The grave was then devastated. After two expansions, the Biyun Temple was characterized with a Ming Dynasty architecture style. Later in Qing Dynasty, the majestic Biyun Temple attracted the Emperors and concubines, therefore in the 12th year of Qianlong Reign(1748) a massive reconstruction started, one the basis of the original layout, a Vajra throne pagoda, a Hall of the Arhats and a palace courtyard were newly built.
There are also many famous temples in my Xian tour, like Da Ci’en Temple and Qinglong Temple, but they never served as a eunuch’s residence.