Juesheng Temple

CHINA, Beijing

Juesheng means Awakening Birth, but the temple is known locally as the Dazhang or Giant Bell Temple. It was constructed in 1733 during the Qing dynasty. Emperor Yongzheng (reigned 1722–1735) issued an imperial decree, which reallocated a Ming dynasty bell to the temple and ordered the construction of its Giant Bell Tower. The Ancient Bell Museum was built in 1985. The temple was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1996.
Facing south, the temple covers an area of 3 ha, of which 3,700 sq m is taken up by buildings. Along the central axis there are the main temple gate, Heavenly King Hall, Great Hero Hall, Dharma Hall, ordination hall, and the Giant Bell Tower. The three-bay wide main temple gate has a hip-and-gable roof. The most important building is the 20 m high, two-story Giant Bell Tower. The building looks like a cylinder sitting on top of a square building. A giant Yongle Bell cast during the time of Emperor Yongle (reigned 1402–1424) of the Ming dynasty hangs within the building. It is 6.8 m high, 3.3 m in diameter, and weighs 46.5 t. Buddhist sutras and dharanis in both Chinese and Sanskrit are carved upon the inside and outside of the bell.