The temple is located on the mountainside of the Ma'an mountain approximately 25 kilometers from downtown Beijing. It was first built in the Kaihuang period of the
Sui Dynasty (581-600) and was originally called the Huiju Temple (Wisdom Accumulation Temple).
The ordination altar in Jietai Temple is known as one of the three largest ordination altars in China together with the other two in
Kaiyuan Temple in
Quanzhou,
Fujian and
Zhaoqing Temple in
Hangzhou,
Zhejiang. As it has largest construction scale, so it is also called the "First Altar in the World" (天下第一坛).[1]
History
Jietai Temple was first built in 622, in the 5th year of Wude period in the
Tang dynasty (618–907) with the name of "Huiju Temple" (慧聚寺).[1]
In 1069, in the 5th year of Xianyong period in the
Liao dynasty (907–1125), master Fajun (法均) founded the ordination altar in the temple. Monks from different areas gathered here to observe the precepts, hence the name "Jietan Temple" (戒坛寺; Jietan means the ordination altar).[1]
Architecture
Jietan Hall (Hall of Ordination Altar)
Jietan Hall is the most important hall in Jietai Temple. It was first built in 1069, in the 5th year of Xianyong period in the
Liao dynasty (907–1125) and was renovated in the
Jin dynasty (1115–1234),
Yuan dynasty (1279–1368),
Ming dynasty (1368–1644) and
Qing dynasty (1644–1911). It still preserves the architectural style of the Liao dynasty.[1]
Inside the hall, a plaque with "树精进幢" (树精进幢 means after observing precepts in the temple, monks can write their own books) written by
Qianlong Emperor is hung on the
architrave. Another plaque with "清戒" written by
Kangxi Emperor is hung in the interior side of the architrave.[1]
A large square ordination altar which is 3.25-metre (10.7 ft) high and made of bluestone is placed in the middle of the hall. The three layers of the ordination altar are all shaped in
Sumeru thrones with carved patterns of clouds and grass. It is surrounded by niches enshrining colored clay sculptures of "deities of precepts" (戒神). On the ordination altar enshrines a clay statue of
Sakyamuni which is sitting on a 3-metre (9.8 ft) high
lotus throne. In front of the Buddha statue, ten
red sandalwood chairs and ten dragon-carved desks are put for the 10 precept masters who will witness the precepts ceremony, namely three masters to witness the ceremony and seven to prove it.[1]
Other
Pine trees
Jietai Temple is also renowned for its old and grotesque
pine trees. They were mostly planted in the
Tang dynasty (618–907) and
Song dynasty (960–1279), and have formed a varied grotesque appearance in the thousand years since. In the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1911), the "Ten Grotesque Pine Trees" (十大奇松) were known to the world, which attracted many
literati to come and compose poems to eulogize them. Some well-known old pine trees are Leisure Pine Tree (自在松), Lying Dragon Pine Tree (卧龙松), Nine Dragon Pine Tree (九龙松), Pagoda Embracing Pine Tree (抱塔松), Active Pine Tree (活动松) and so on.[1]