圣安寺

Shrouded in the mists of time, the Sheng’an Temple whispers stories of emperors, scholars, and the ebb and flow of history. Here, at 119 Nan Heng West Street, Sheng’an Temple stands as a testament to Beijing’s rich past. Sheng’an Temple’s story begins in the Jin Dynasty, during the Tianhui years (1123-1135). Legend says the Empress, moved by the teachings of two Buddhist masters, Fojue and Puming, commissioned its construction. Its original name, Liuhu Temple, arose from its location near a willow-lined lake in Liuhucun Village. Sheng’an Temple became a gathering place for officials, scholars, and poets. Yuan Dynasty poet Nazhun wrote of the temple housing statues of Jin emperors Wanyan Sheng and Wanyan Liang. It’s even rumored that a statue of Emperor Zhangzong’s beloved concubine, Li Shishi, graced its halls. History tells us the esteemed official Wang Yan held celebrations at Sheng’an Temple. Even the crown prince attended a feast there, before officials escorted Wang Yan from the city through Lize Gate. By the Ming Dynasty, the lake had vanished, and with it, the willows. In 1446, a devastating earthquake rocked Beijing. The eunuch Wang Zhen, eager to claim credit, oversaw the temple’s reconstruction. He erased its Jin Dynasty origins, renaming it Puji Temple. Three statues of the Three Ages Buddha were installed, their crimson forms radiating a quiet power. These statues were later moved to Jingming Garden during the Qing Dynasty, under the Qianlong Emperor. He restored the temple in 1776, returning its name to Sheng’an Temple. The temple’s gables bore inscriptions written by the Emperor himself. After 1949, Sheng’an Temple was repurposed as a private primary school, later becoming the Xuanwu District Children’s Science and Technology Museum. Declared a protected site in 1957, it tragically suffered severe damage during the Cultural Revolution. Though its exquisite murals and statues were lost, the Shanmen (mountain gate) and Tianwang Hall survived. Today, a kindergarten occupies the former site of the main hall. Though much of the original Sheng’an Temple is gone, the Shanmen remains. It stands proudly, a tangible link to a vibrant past. A newly erected stone tablet marks the spot, proclaiming it the site of the Jin Dynasty Sheng’an Temple.