Huoshen Temple in Beijing
Overview
Huoshen Temple火德真君庙 or 火神庙, commonly known as the Fire God Temple, is located at No. 77 Di’anmen Outer Street (地安门外大街) in Xicheng District (西城区), Beijing. It was originally built in the sixth year of the Tang Dynasty (632 AD) and underwent reconstruction in the thirty-eighth year of the Wanli era (1610 AD) on the original site from the Yuan Dynasty. The temple was renovated again in the twenty-fourth year of the Qianlong era (1759 AD) and opened to the public on December 12, 2010, as a directly affiliated temple of the China Taoist Association.
Huoshen Temple is oriented south, with its mountain gate facing east. Inside the gate, there is a colorful archway with inscriptions reading “Shouguo Mountain Forest” (寿国山林) on the east side and “Dantian Sacred Realm” (丹天圣境) on the west side. Directly opposite the mountain gate is the Three Officials Hall, which enshrines the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water. The main buildings of Huoshen Temple are arranged along the north-south central axis, including the Lingguan Hall (灵官殿), which houses the Taoist guardian deity; the Yinghuo Treasure Hall (荧惑宝殿), dedicated to the Fire Deity; the Doumu Pavilion; and the Wansui Jingming Pavilion (万岁景命阁), commonly known as the Jade Emperor Pavilion.
On May 24, 1984, Huoshen Temple was designated as a municipal cultural heritage protection unit by the Beijing Municipal Government.
Historical Development
- 632 AD: Huoshen Temple was first established during the Tang Dynasty.
- 1346 AD: The temple underwent renovations during the Yuan Dynasty.
- 1610 AD: Huoshen Temple was rebuilt on the original site of the West Medicine King Temple from the Yuan Dynasty, receiving glazed tiles to suppress fire and adding green glazed tiles to its roofs.
- 1621 AD: The emperor ordered officials of the Taichang Temple to offer sacrifices to Huoshen Jun (火德真君) on June 22 each year.
- 1759 AD: Major renovations were carried out, changing the color of the buildings, including the Jade Emperor Pavilion, to yellow tiles.
- 1956 AD: The temple was nationalized.
- 1993 AD: The temple was converted into a guesthouse for a military unit and dormitories for the Beijing Public Security Bureau’s traffic department.
- 2002 AD: Restoration work began.
- 2008 AD: Further renovations took place.
- 2010 AD: The temple opened to the public as a directly affiliated temple of the China Taoist Association.
Architectural Layout
Huoshen Temple is oriented north-south, with its mountain gate facing east. The gate features a hip roof covered with yellow and green glazed tiles, adorned with double dragon motifs. Inside the gate, there is a colorful archway with inscriptions. Directly facing the mountain gate is the Three Officials Hall, dedicated to the Three Officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water. The main buildings are arranged along the central axis, from south to north: the Lingguan Hall (隆恩殿), the Yinghuo Treasure Hall (火祖殿), the Doumu Pavilion, and the Wansui Jingming Pavilion.
Features
The temple predominantly uses glazed tiles for its roofs. Except for the two side rooms of the Yinghuo Treasure Hall and the two side rooms of the Doumu Pavilion, which have gray tiles, most structures are topped with glazed tiles. This practice originated from frequent fires in the Forbidden City and altars during the Wanli era, prompting the use of glazed tiles to suppress fire. During the Qianlong era, yellow tiles were added to the mountain gate and Wansui Jingming Pavilion.
The coiling dragon ceiling of the Yinghuo Treasure Hall serves as a decorative element, symbolizing both status and the ancient concept of fire avoidance, representing the idea of using water to suppress fire.
Main Buildings
Mountain Gate
The Mountain Gate features a single-eaved hip roof covered with yellow glazed tiles and green edges, with dimensions of one bay in width and depth.
Lingguan Hall
Located at the southern end, Lingguan Hall (隆恩殿) has a reverse structure, with three bays, a single-eaved hip roof of black glazed tiles and green edges, housing the deity Lingguan (灵官).
Yinghuo Treasure Hall
North of Lingguan Hall is the main hall, Yinghuo Treasure Hall (火祖殿), which has three bays in width and depth, with a single-eaved hip roof and a front hall with a three-bay structure. It is dedicated to the Southern Fire Deity, commonly referred to as the Fire Ancestor or Fire God. The hall originally displayed a plaque and couplets inscribed by Emperor Qianlong, emphasizing the virtues of agriculture and governance.
Doumu Pavilion
North of Yinghuo Treasure Hall is the Doumu Pavilion, which has five bays and a gable roof, featuring two stories. It originally displayed a plaque inscribed by Emperor Qianlong.
Wansui Jingming Pavilion
The final building, Wansui Jingming Pavilion (万岁景命阁), commonly known as the Jade Emperor Pavilion, consists of three bays, a gable roof with green glazed tiles, and originally displayed a plaque inscribed by Emperor Qianlong. The pavilion connects to two two-story side halls via corridors, both featuring three bays and gable roofs with gray tiles and green edges.
Cultural Activities
On December 12, 2010, Huoshen Temple held a grand opening ceremony. On August 9, 2020, the temple hosted a peace prayer meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Research Achievements
Most temples in Beijing feature back halls, but Huoshen Temple is an exception. The Doumu Pavilion serves as a back hall predating the Ming Dynasty, containing two tiers. The construction of the Wansui Jingming Pavilion north of Doumu Pavilion indicates that it was expanded during the Ming Dynasty, while Doumu Pavilion was the original back hall.
Cultural Heritage Protection
On May 24, 1984, Huoshen Temple was announced as a cultural heritage protection unit by the Beijing Municipal Government.
Tourism Information
Location
Huoshen Temple is located at No. 77 Di’anmen Outer Street (地安门外大街), Xicheng District (西城区), Beijing.
Transportation Routes
Public Transport: Take buses 5, 60, 82, 107, 124, 135, or the sightseeing bus 3 to Gulou Station (鼓楼站) or take buses 60, 107, 124, or the sightseeing bus 3 to Di’anmen Outer Station (地安门外站).
Driving: The Xicheng District People’s Government is approximately 6.2 kilometers from Huoshen Temple, taking about 20 minutes by car.
