View source for Temple of Azure Clouds

{{Short description|Buddhist temple in Beijing, China}}
{{unreferenced|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Temple of Azure Clouds
| native_name = 
| image = Bys.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| alt = 
| caption = Entrance to the Temple of Azure Clouds
| map_type = China Beijing municipality
| map_size = 
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = Location in [[Beijing]]
| location = 
| coordinates = {{coord|39.9958|N|116.1853|E|source:ruwiki_region:CN_type:landmark|format=dms|display=title,inline}}
| religious_affiliation = [[Buddhism]]
| deity = 
| country = [[China]]
| functional_status = 
| website = 
| founded_by = 
| year_completed = 
}}

The '''Temple of Azure Clouds''' ({{zh|t=碧云寺|p=Bìyún Sì}}), or '''Biyun Temple''', is a [[Buddhism in China|Buddhist]] temple located in the eastern part of the [[Western Hills]], just outside the north gate of [[Fragrant Hills|Fragrant Hills (Xiangshan)]] Park, in [[Haidian District]], [[Beijing]], [[China]], approximately 20&nbsp;km from the city center. It was built in the 14th century (possibly in 1331), during the [[Yuan dynasty]] (1271–1368) and was expanded in 1748.

The temple, which is built on six levels over an elevation of nearly 100 meters, is known for its fine scenery. The temple also includes the [[Sun Yat-sen]] Memorial Hall, which is located at the center of the temple complex. Two other prominent features are the [[Arhat]]s Hall and the Vajrasana Pagoda.

Inside Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall lies an empty crystal coffin presented by the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] government in 1925 in memory of [[Sun Yat-sen]] (his body had already been entombed and placed at the temple pagoda until its relocation to Nanjing in 1929). Photos of Sun Yat-sen, his handwriting, books and statue are also on display on two sides.

There are 512 statues, which include 500 wooden [[Arhats]], 11 Bodhisattvas and one statue of [[Ji Gong]] (a famous [[Buddhist]] monk) inside the Hall of Arhats. All the Arhats are vivid, life-size statues with different poses and expressions. It has been said that two of these Arhats were the statues of the [[Kangxi Emperor]] and the [[Qianlong Emperor]] of the [[Qing dynasty]] (1644–1911). In addition to these life-sized images, there is a miniature statue of Ji Gong perched on an overhead beam.

<gallery>
Bys szsjnt.jpg|Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
Bys jgbzt6.JPG|Arhat Hall
Bys jgbzt.jpg|Vajrasana Pagoda
Bys mlfd.jpg|Hall of Maitreya
Statue of Budai in the Temple of Azure Clouds.jpg|Statue of Budai
Azure Clouds Temple 2.jpg|Arhat Hall from Biyun Temple
Azure Clouds Temple 3.jpg|Stone Archway
</gallery>

==External links==
{{Commons|碧云寺|Temple of Azure Clouds}}
*[http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/biyun.htm Article about Temple of Azure Clouds]
*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/bibubl/301614293/#comment72157600402408216 Photo of Temple of Azure Clouds]

{{Buddhist temples in Beijing}}
{{Old Beijing}}
{{Yuan dynasty topics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Temple Of Azure Clouds}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1331]]
[[Category:14th-century Buddhist temples]]
[[Category:Yuan dynasty architecture]]
[[Category:Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Beijing]]
[[Category:Buddhist temples in Beijing]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Haidian District]]