Beshbalik Buddhist Temple

CHINA, Xinjiang, Jimsar

The ancient city of Beshbalik, also known as Beiting, is located within the county of Jimsar. The office of the Beshbalik Protectorate General was established here during the Tang dynasty (618–907). After the 9th century, it became an auxiliary capital of the Uighur Kingdom. During excavations of the temple site between 1979 and 1980, figures of the Uighur king and the Protectorate General as donors were found in the two stories of niches on the upper eastern facade of the main hall, and also at the ruins in the south. The figures date from the mid-10th to mid-13th centuries. As part of the ancient city of Beshbalik, the temple was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1988.
The temple site is rectangular and is divided into north and south areas. The main hall in the north is the most important building. The east, west, and north facades contain two tiers of closely arranged Buddha niches. There are eight niches on the lower level, while the upper level has seven niches. Each niche contains murals and a statue. Among them, Niche S105 features an illustration of the Distribution of Relics Among the Eight Kings. The site in the south is a temple compound consisting of courtyards, platforms, side halls, monastic quarters, and storehouses.