Located in
the northwestern part of Beihai Park, the Small Sukhavati (Pure
Land) Garden
was built in 1770 by Qing Emperor Qianlong to celebrate his mother's birthday.
The main hall in the garden is the largest square pavillion in Asia. It
is surrounded with water but easy of access by bridges. It is small pavilion
at each corner. Inside the hall there is a mounded Buddhist Sumeru mountain
with a seated Sakyamuni, with Ananda and Mahakasyapa standing by each
side and Bodhisttvas and Arhats of various symbolic gestures arranged
around. The mountain is embellished with ancient towers and temples, exotic
flowers and rare trees, and cruling mists and clouds, making it look like
the legendary "Western Paradise"(Sukhavati). Emperor Qianlong
once inscribed the words "Pure Land" in mandarin Chinese on
board, which is still hung high in the hall. These features make the building
a precious buddhist architectural work.
The garden
was closed for reason of damages and safety since 1952. The departments
concerned have made efforts to restore and conserve the garden especially
during the period from 1987 to 1993. The Sukhavati
Garden was finally reopened to domestic and foreign tourists in early
1994.
Within
the resorted Sukhavati Garden the tourist will acquire a vivid experience
of the mountain istself and will find sculptures of the Buddhist Mi
School in the cave.
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was built in 1770 by Qing Emperor Qianlong to celebrate his mother's birthday.
The main hall in the garden is the largest square pavillion in Asia. It
is surrounded with water but easy of access by bridges. It is small pavilion
at each corner. Inside the hall there is a mounded Buddhist Sumeru mountain
with a seated Sakyamuni, with Ananda and Mahakasyapa standing by each
side and Bodhisttvas and Arhats of various symbolic gestures arranged
around. The mountain is embellished with ancient towers and temples, exotic
flowers and rare trees, and cruling mists and clouds, making it look like
the legendary "Western Paradise"(Sukhavati). Emperor Qianlong
once inscribed the words "Pure Land" in mandarin Chinese on
board, which is still hung high in the hall. These features make the building
a precious buddhist architectural work.