Peking Five-Pagoda Temple (Wuta Si)

Beijing Wuta Temple, formerly known as Zhenjue Temple, was later known as the "Wuta Temple" because of the five Vajra Throne Pagodas in the temple. It is now in the Stone Carving Art Museum. The core building of Wuta Temple, the Vajra Throne Pagoda, is the oldest existing Vajra Throne Pagoda in China. It imitates the Vajra Throne of Bodhgaya in India and integrates the Han and Tibetan architectural styles. There are many stone carvings in Wuta Temple, including Northern Wei Buddhist statues, Tang Dynasty epitaphs, and Qing Dynasty Shixiang Hall.

The Vajra Throne Pagoda in Wuta Temple is the oldest existing Vajra Throne Pagoda in my country with the most exquisite carvings. Wuta Temple in autumn is even more unique in Beijing. There are two ancient ginkgo trees over 600 years old, one male and one female. In late autumn, the golden ginkgo leaves on the trees and the ancient Vajra Throne Pagoda complement each other, forming a unique autumn picture scroll in Beijing. There are also many persimmon trees in Wuta Temple. In late autumn, persimmons hang on the branches, complementing the golden ginkgo leaves and the quaint ancient pagoda, presenting a scene of everything going well.

Beijing Wuta Temple (originally Zhenjue Temple, later renamed Dazhengjue Temple), is also the Beijing Stone Carving Art Museum. Its first feature is that Wuta Temple is famous for its unique Vajra Throne Pagoda. The pagoda was built in the ninth year of Ming Chenghua (1473), and its form imitates the memorial pagoda of the Buddha Gaya Vihara in India, with high historical and cultural value. Its second feature is the two nearly 600-year-old ancient silver trees. Every year in late autumn and early winter, the leaves of the ancient silver trees are full of golden leaves, attracting an endless stream of tourists to come and watch, becoming a famous Internet celebrity check-in spot in Beijing.

The five pagodas of the Wuta Temple are called Vajra Throne Pagodas in scientific name. This one in Beijing is the oldest existing dense eaves Vajra Throne Pagoda in my country. Its shape and carvings are the best among the existing pagodas of this type, and it is very ornamental. The outer periphery of the Sumeru-style platform at the bottom of the pagoda is engraved with Sanskrit, Buddha statues, instruments and other decorations. The seat of the Vajra Throne on the platform is divided into five layers, each of which is surrounded by niches, and each niche has a seated Buddha. There is a vaulted door in the north and south of the throne. The vaulted surface of the arch is engraved with golden-winged birds, lions, elephants, peacocks, flying sheep and other decorations. On the south vaulted door is a stone plaque inscribed with "The Vajra Throne was built by imperial decree, on the second day of the eleventh month of the ninth year of Chenghua in the Ming Dynasty". The south vaulted door leads to the pagoda room. There are stone stairs in the pagoda room leading to the top of the throne. The five small dense eaves stone pagodas on the top of the throne are all square, and the middle pagoda has thirteen floors. It is a copper covered bowl-shaped pagoda. It is said that the five golden Buddhas brought by Indian monks are hidden in this pagoda. The other four towers have eleven floors and stone pagoda tops. In the middle of the south side of the base of the central small tower, there is a pair of Buddha's feet engraved, indicating that Buddha's footprints are all over the world. Currently, the tower room can be entered, but the top of the tower cannot be reached. There are two 500-year-old ginkgo trees next to the tower, which are beautiful in autumn. [Cost-effective] Super high, ticket price: 20 yuan/person for adults, free for the first 200 people every Wednesday ⏰Opening hours: 09:00-16:30, closes early, you have to pay attention to the time if you want to visit

The transportation is quite convenient and the place is small. Recently, maybe because the ginkgo trees have turned yellow, there are more people visiting. The most cost-effective ones are these stone tablets.

The Vajra Throne Pagoda of Wuta Temple is a pagoda in the form of the Buddha Gaya Vihara in India (a memorial pagoda built at the Gaya Mountain Temple where Sakyamuni attained enlightenment). According to Buddhist scriptures, there are five directions and five realms of Vajra, east, west, south, north and center, and the five pagodas each enshrine a Buddha from one direction. Wuta Temple was destroyed during the invasion of China by the Eight-Power Allied Forces, and the temple was completely destroyed, with only the Vajra Throne Pagoda surviving.