The Temple of the Sleeping Buddha [Beijing]

The Temple is located in the West Suburbs of Beijing. It was built in the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt and renamed in Yuan, Ming, Tsing Dynasties.

The Hall of the Sleeping Buddha is the main structure of the Temple. Entering the temple and passing through the Glazed Archway, the Mountain Gate Hall, Devaraja Hall and the Hall of the Buddhas of Three Ages, you come to the Hall of the Sleeping Buddha. In the hall is the bronze statue of Sakyamuni Buddha in recumbent position. Cast in 1321 (Yuan Dynasty), the statue weights about 54 tons (about119,050 lb) and is 5.3 metres (about 17.4 feet) in length. Around the statue are his twelve disciples moded in clay. The posture of the group represents, it is said, a scene in which Sykyamuni Buddha ws giving instructions to his diciples as he neared the end of his earthly existence.