| |

Yonghegong

ARTIST RESIDENCY CHINA — BEIJING, no. 10

Yonghe Lamasery

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.

Yonghe Lamasery

Yonghe Lamasery

requisite lion at the gate

Yonghe Lamasery

burning incense in front of temple, monks chanting inside

Yonghe Lamasery

Yonghe Lamasery

Yonghe Lamasery

Yonghe Lamasery

monks chanting sutras with drums and horns

Yonghe Lamasery

Yonghe Lamasery

Yonghe Lamasery

Yonghe Lamasery

Yonghe Lamasery

Yonghe Lamasery

Maitreya, 60-foot tall statue of the future Buddha

Yonghe Lamasery

painted ceiling tiles

Yonghe Lamasery

museum collection

Yonghe Lamasery

twin goldfish, ceremonial robe, detail

Yonghe Lamasery

sutras

Yonghe Lamasery

Yonghe Lamasery

conch shells

Yonghe Lamasery

Yonghe Lamasery

Yonghe Lamasery

massive 5-inch seal script chop

Yonghe Lamasery

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.

Yonghe Lamasery

White Tara thangkha, small detail, made from 4,000 pieces of silk

Yonghe Lamasery

Yonghe Lamasery

White Tara, silk applique side panel

Yonghe Lamasery

Yonghe Lamasery

Yonghe Lamasery

last gate before the street

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

To see all blog posts in this topic, select tab above marked RESIDENCIES > CHINA.

Save

Save

Similar Posts