“Ten Directions and Myriad Buddhas Precious Pagoda,” the inscription reads. These words mark the entrance above a vaulted doorway. Welcome to the ancient pagoda, a silent witness to centuries of Beijing’s history.
The Ten Directions and Myriad Buddhas Precious Pagoda stands approximately 30 meters tall. It is an octagonal nine-story密檐式 brick tower. Its base measures about two meters high. The tower was initially part of the now-destroyed Temple of Longevity. It now stands in the Ancient Pagoda Park in the northeast of Mafang Temple Village in Wang Si Camp Township in Chaoyang District in Beijing.
Let’s step back in time to the Ming Dynasty. It was the spring of 1545. The pagoda was constructed under the guidance of Zen Master Cui Feng. He was the abbot of the Temple of Longevity. It was originally named “Ten Directions and Myriad Buddhas Universally United Precious Pagoda.” The structure was designed with a specific purpose. It was built to house Buddha statues and arhat images. The pagoda also had a crypt for sacred objects. These could be relics like clothing, hair or teeth of virtuous individuals.
Legend says that after Zen Master Cui Feng died in 1549, his remains were buried a few meters behind the pagoda.
The Temple of Longevity received extensive renovations in the early Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. Empress Dowager Cishou generously donated 1,500 taels of silver. Other palace members contributed another 1,000 taels. The renovations included a new mountain gate, a Hall of Heavenly Kings and a bell and drum tower. Further enhancements added a sutra repository, a Hall of Water and Land and monks’ quarters. The entire temple complex was lavishly furnished.
Unfortunately, the Temple of Longevity was destroyed during the庚子事变. This translates to the Boxer Rebellion at the end of the Qing Dynasty. The Eight-Nation Alliance razed the temple. The Ten Directions and Myriad Buddhas Precious Pagoda was the only structure that survived.
In March 1989, the Chaoyang District People’s Government allocated funds for the pagoda’s restoration. This effort largely restored its original appearance.
Interestingly, on September 12, 2005, the Beijing Youth Daily reported that the Ten Directions and Myriad Buddhas Precious Pagoda had been vandalized with graffiti. This incident drew significant attention from relevant departments. In April 2008, the newly built Ancient Pagoda Park opened. It became one of Beijing’s first batch of suburban parks offering free admission.
Look closely at the north side of the Ten Directions and Myriad Buddhas Precious Pagoda. You will find three stone steles. These steles record the pagoda’s history and restoration efforts. One stele dates back to 1556. It was erected by eunuchs. Another was erected in 1573. The third stele is from 1550. It contains an inscription about Zen Master Cui Feng.
On the south side are two more steles. One is inscribed with “Virtue Planting Golden Fields.” The other reads “Famous Place Inscription.”
So here stands the Ten Directions and Myriad Buddhas Precious Pagoda. It stands as a testament to resilience. It represents a blend of religious devotion, imperial patronage and cultural preservation. Its story echoes through the centuries. It enriches Beijing’s cultural landscape.