| History |  |
In the Yuan Dynasty (1271/1378) there was a hall here called Yitian, later renamed Cheng Guang. It was rebuilt in 1690, during the reign of the Qing Dynasty Emperor Kangxi. The square structure has a hall on each side and an eaved roof of several tiers. Solidly constructed, its shape is unique among Beijing's many halls.
The white jade of the Sakyamuni Buddha in the hall is 1.5 meters high. Its crown and garments bejeweled, it was carved from a single piece of flawdess white jade. It is said to have been a tribute to Empress Dowager Cixi from the Monk Mingkuan who brought it from Burma in 1896. The gash on its left arm was made by soldiers of the Eight-Power Allied Forces who invaded Beijing in 1900. |
