Yonghegong
ARTIST RESIDENCY CHINA — BEIJING, no. 10
Yonghegong is an active and well-attended Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Beijing. Built in 1694 as an imperial residence, it was converted to a lamasery in 1744. Worshipers offer gifts of money, food, large paper flowers, and complementary incense provided at the entrance. As with other sites in Beijing, it is meticulously restored and enormous, with five central halls containing countless carved, painted, and bronze aspects of Buddha. The last and largest hall barely exceeds the 60-foot tall statue of Maitreya carved from white sandalwood. The museum has a collection of exquisite ceremonial objects.
requisite lion at the gate
burning incense in front of temple, monks chanting inside
monks chanting sutras with drums and horns
Maitreya, 60-foot tall statue of the future Buddha
painted ceiling tiles
museum collection
twin goldfish, ceremonial robe, detail
sutras
conch shells
massive 5-inch seal script chop
Of the uncountable quantity of exquisite objects encountered in five weeks in China, the tea cup above and silk appliqué below are two of the most astonishing.
White Tara thangkha, small detail, made from 4,000 pieces of silk
White Tara, silk applique side panel
last gate before the street
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