The Temple of Potaraka Doctrine
The Temple of Universal Peace (Puning Temple) Covers an area of 23,000 square meters (5.7 acres), which is the furthest north of the eight temples situated outside the walls of the Imperial Summer Villa and certainly one of the most impressive. Also known as the Big Buddha Temple, a reference to the huge statue of the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin, combines Tibetan and Han architectural styles, reflecting both the deep influence of Tibetan Buddhism on Chinese culture and the long-standing Chinese interest in integrating Tibet into a greater Chinese state. The temple was built in 1755 to commemorate the victory of the Chinese emperor over the Zonggar people of northwest China. It was constructed as a gesture of goodwill between the Qing Dynasty rulers and the conquered minorities of the region.
Qianlong ordered to build the Temple of Universal Peace, a symbol of the emperor's ambition to maintain peace among various ethnic minorities and a stable environment within the northwestern regions. This temple, like many in Chengde, is designed mainly in Tibetan and Han styles, with various halls including the Gate Hall, the Bell and Drum Towers, a Stele Pavilion, the Hall of Heavenly Kings and the Mahavira Hall. The large wooden Buddhist statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokite vara within the main hall of the Puning Temple is one of its most renowned features. It shows a thousand different eyes and a thousand different arms stretched out from its frame (in various sizes). The statue itself is made from five kinds of wood, including pine, cypress, elm, fir, and linden.
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