What is the history and background of Biyun Temple in Xiangshan, Beijing?

Introduction to the Temple:

Biyun Temple was founded in the second year of Yuan to Shun (1331), and it was expanded in the Ming and Qing Dynasties before it took shape today. Biyun Temple is a group of compact and well-preserved temples. Located in the north of Xiangshan Park, Haidian District, Beijing, at the foot of Jubao Mountain, the temple sits west facing east and is built according to the mountain situation. The whole temple, from the mountain gate to the stone pagoda behind the temple, has a height difference of more than 1 meters. The first few Buddhist temples on the central axis are relics of the Ming Dynasty, and there are Buddhist sculptures in them. Among them, a pair of stone lions and two generals standing in front of the mountain, the muddy colored sculptures in the temple and the wall sculptures on the gable of Maitreya Buddha Hall are all art treasures of the Ming Dynasty. Layers of temples are stacked on the mountain. Because the temples are gradually raised according to the mountain, in order not to expose the overall layout landscape, the fascinating construction form of revolving series is adopted, and each courtyard has its own characteristics, giving people architectural characteristics.

Biyun Temple has a history of more than 6 years. There is a stone bridge in front of Biyun Temple, and a pair of stone lions are close to the gate. Facing the mountain gate is the hall of two generals. Two clay colored sculptures stand on both sides of the main hall. Hum and Ha divided the two sides of the hall into the bell tower and the drum tower, forming the first courtyard. The main hall is Maitreya Buddha Hall, in front of which there is a platform. There is a statue of Sakyamuni in the center of the Great Hall of the Temple. On the left are the venerable Jia Ye and Manjusri Bodhisattva, and on the right are the venerable Ananda and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. After the statue of Sakyamuni, there are Guanyin Bodhisattva, Shancai, Dragon King, Dragon Lady and Wei Tuo.

Biyun Temple has a history of more than 6 years since it was founded in the Yuan Dynasty. There is a stone bridge in front of the mountain gate of Biyun Temple, and next to the mountain gate are a pair of stone lions, squatting on Sumeru, with slender bodies and great power. Facing the mountain gate is the hall of two generals. The temple is located in the west and east, with three rooms wide, a grey tile roof resting on the mountain and a bucket arch under the eaves. The two clay colored sculptures, standing on both sides of the main hall, are about 4.8 meters high, with vivid images, bright colors and strong posture, and are a pair of highly valuable sculpture works of art. Hum and Ha divided the two sides of the hall into the bell tower and the drum tower, forming the first courtyard. The main hall of this courtyard is the Maitreya Buddha Hall, where there were four statues of the Great Kings, but only the Maitreya Buddha statue is left. There is a platform in front of the temple, and there are two octagonal buildings standing on the platform, all of which are engraved with sutras.

precious cultural relics;

In the center of the Hall of the Great Hero of the temple, there is a statue of Sakyamuni, with the venerable Jia Ye and Manjushri on the left and the venerable Ananda and Samantabhadra on the right. On the gable, colorful sculptures of eighteen arhats with different postures and lively images, and the supernatural stories of Tang Priest's Buddhist scriptures in The Journey to the West are placed. The ethereal realm of Yunshan is shaped in the three-dimensional sculpture, which enhances the three-dimensional sense and realism, and is worthy of being an art treasure of the Ming Dynasty. After the statue of Sakyamuni, there are statues of Guanyin Bodhisattva, Shancai, Dragon King, Dragon Lady, Wei Tuo, etc., surrounded by hanging sculptures of Guanyin Bodhisattva, rocks and clouds, etc., which are completely integrated with the front hall.

special point of view;

The third courtyard is dominated by the Bodhisattva Hall, with three rooms in width, a front porch, a bucket arch under the eaves, and the inscription "Static Performance of Three Cars". There are five clay-painted bodhisattvas in the temple, with Guanyin Bodhisattva in the center, Manjusri Bodhisattva and Chihiro Bodhisattva on the left, and Samantabhadra and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva on the right. On the east and west walls, there are 24 heavenly gods and four-star images of happiness, fortune, longevity and happiness about one meter high. There are also hanging sculptures of Yunshan and small Buddhist story sculptures around the statue. There are towering old trees and lush foliage in the hospital. Among them, the Miluo tree is the most precious. This tree originated from India, and its top is like a curved umbrella, its branches are curved, its leaves are long and round, and its shape is like jujube pits. Each fork has 5 or 7 leaves, so it is also called "horse chestnut". Buddha Sakyamuni died under the Miluo tree, thus becoming a treasure of Buddhism.

the tower courtyard is located at the end of the temple. In the south of the courtyard, there is an exquisitely carved white marble archway. On both sides of the archway, there are eight stone carvings on the front of the archway, and eight reliefs of historical figures are engraved with titles. There are eight big characters engraved on the small square on the wall, the left is "honest and sincere", and the right is "righteous and dedicated". The tower is built in the shape of Wuta Temple in Beijing. There are three such pagodas in Beijing, and the other two are the Qing Purified Domain Pagoda of Xihuang Temple and the King Kong Throne Pagoda of Zhenjue Temple.

on the left and right sides of the central axis are Luohantang and Shuiquanyuan. In the middle of the top of Luohan Hall stands pagodas and pavilions symbolizing the pure land of the West. There are four heavenly kings in the main entrance, the third Buddha in the center, and a statue on each of the four passages (Wei Tuo in the east, Mituo Buddha in the west, Tibetan Bodhisattva in the south and crazy monk in the north). There are 58 statues in the temple, all carved in wood and covered with gold foil. Five hundred arhats are arranged in sequence. The sitting statue is about 1.5 meters high, and its size is the same as that of others.