Yonghe Gong, also
known as the Lama Temple and the Harmony and Peace Palace Lamasery, in
Beijing.
It is located in the northeastern part of the capital and is said to be one
of the largest and most important temples of
Tibetan Buddhism.
Yonghe Gong Lama Temple
Yonghe Gong Lama Temple
The former imperial palace
built in 1694, was after 1722
gradually transformed into a monastery for monks
of the Gelug school, i.e. the Yellow Hat Sect (fig.)
of
Lamaism.
The Hall of Harmony and Peace houses three bronze statues called the Buddhas
of the Three Ages, i.e. past, present and future, and which from left to
right are
Kasyapa,
Sakyamuni,
and
Maitreya.
Yonghe Gong Lama Temple
Yonghe Gong Lama Temple
In addition, it also houses a small museum with Buddhist
images and artifacts related to Lamaism.
