Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wofosi)
The Temple of the Reclining Buddha is located in the Western Hills at the southern foot of Jubao (also called Shou’an) Mountain, about 20 kilometers from Beijing downtown. It is inside the Beijing Botanical Garden, so if you want to visit this temple, you have to pay the garden ticket first.
The temple was first built during the Zhenguan period (627-249) of the Tang Dynasty, when it was also known as the Temple of Peaceful Longevity (Shou’ansi 寿安寺). In later periods it fell into ruin and was rebuilt and renamed several times. One of the last major renovations was completed in 1724.
As early as the Tang Dynasty, the temple contained a sandalwood sculpture of the reclining Buddha. In 1330-1331 during the Yuan Dynasty, a large-scale bronze image of the Buddha attaining Nirvana was cast, and from that time on, the temple was popularly called the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. According to the history of the Yuan Dynasty, the casting of this Buddha required 250,000 kilograms of bronze and 7,000 laborers. At the main entrance of the temple stands a glazed tile ornamental archway, and inside there are a bell tower and a drum tower flank a semi-circular pool.
The famous bronze Buddha is more than five meters long. The Buddha lies in a sleeping position, with one arm extended and the other propping up his head, and is surrounded by 12 smaller Buddhas. According to legend, this scene represents the Buddha on his deathbed giving instructions to his 12 disciples, who were seated under a pair of sal (poluo) trees.
The rear of the temple is set against the mountain cliffs, on top of which, a sutra repository was built; and at its front are open fields. On the western side are rockeries, pavilions.
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