“What stories do these walls conceal?” A question often asked when standing before such historical sites as the Lüzu Temple.
The Lüzu Temple also known as the Yan Jing Chunyang Palace stands as a testament to Beijing’s rich cultural heritage. This Taoist temple of the Quanzhen Dragon Gate Sect is located on Shuncheng Street.
Originally a fire god temple from the Ming Dynasty, Lüzu Temple transformed in 1857. Taoist Ye Hairen purchased the land with help from Baiyun Temple. He rebuilt it as a temple honoring the Pure Yang Ancestor, Lü Dongbin.
Legend says that Cixi, the Empress Dowager, visited the Lüzu Temple. She was suffering from stomach pains. After hearing of a Taoist priest with high medical skill at the temple, she sought his help. His treatment was successful. In gratitude, she granted the temple yellow glazed tiles.
Today, the architecture reflects renovations from the Qing Dynasty. The temple faces east. It includes a mountain gate and the Lüzu Hall. You can also see the Xiuzhen Hall and the Lüzu Pavilion.
Entering through the mountain gate you may notice a stone tablet. The tablet bears the inscription “Ancient Temple of the Fire God”. This is a remnant from the original fire god temple.
Inside the Lüzu Hall statues of Lü Dongbin, Zhao Gongming and Sun Simiao are displayed. A couplet adorns the hall. It says “A cup of yellow millet pierces the dream. Ninefold elixir refines the immortal.” A Qing Dynasty mural decorates the hall’s rear wall. It depicts a tiger descending a mountain.
North of the Lüzu Hall lies the Beijing Taoist Association. To the south is the Lüzu Pavilion a two story building. The plaque reads “Honoring Tao and Cherishing Virtue.”
The couplets state: “The Yin symbol has three hundred characters. Tao Te Ching has five thousand words.” Another couplet proclaims: “Blessings and misfortunes are self-invoked. Retribution follows deeds like shadows.”
North of the Lüzu Hall is the Xiuzhen Hall. The couplet says: “Guests discuss Tao. Visitors leisurely chant scriptures.” A stone tablet stands before the hall’s east side corridor. Unearthed during the 2005 renovations, it likely dates back to the Ming Dynasty.
The backyard of the Lüzu Temple serves as office space for the Beijing Taoist Association.
In 2005, a restoration project revitalized the temple. On September 24, 2006, the temple reopened as a Taoist activity site.
As you wander through Lüzu Temple consider its survival. It has survived historical shifts. It is a spiritual anchor amid Beijing’s modern financial district. Lüzu Temple continues to offer insights into Taoist culture. Its beautiful buildings and quiet courtyards provide a tranquil escape.