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Dule Temple

Buddhist temple in Tianjin, China

  • 7 min read
  • 4 chapters

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History

The origins of the Dule Temple date back at least to the early Tang dynasty. However, no buildings from the Tang dynasty era have survived on the site. In which year the Dule Temple was built is unknown. According to Liang Sicheng's research published in 1932, since the gate is the oldest part of the temple, and the form of the gate is similar to the form of the Tang Dynasty buildings recorded in Dunhuang murals, it is reasonable to deduce that the gate and the Guanyin Pavilion should be built in the Sui and Tang dynasties. The oldest buildings still in existence, the shanmen and the Guanyin Pavilion, were rebuilt during a renovation of the temple in the second year of Tonghe Emperor of the Liao dynasty (984 AD). These buildings, both central features of the temple, were designed and constructed by local architects and craftsmen on the basis of the Tang architectural technology and carving techniques. According to another important research, by comparing different sizes for every component of the Guanyin Pavilion and the gate, we can further confirm the date of construction of the building.

In 755, An Lushan held a rally in the Dule Temple at the onset of his rebellion against the Tang emperor. The name of the temple could be a reference to An Lushan, who was also known as An Dule. However, the name could also have originated from the Dule River that flows to northwest of the city, although it is not clear if the river's name predates that of the temple.

More artifacts were accidentally found in 1982 when the national government attempted to repair the temple's damage due to an earthquake. One of the artifacts documented the While Tower in the temple was rebuilt during the year 1058. It has been verified that all the murals in the Guan Yin Pavilion were added during a restoration work in 1753. And new buildings were constructed in the temple during that period.

In 1928, a unit of soldiers commanded by warlord Sun Dianying was stationed in the Dule Temple and used the main hall as barracks. Sun Dianying and his troops were responsible for the looting of the nearby Eastern Qing Tombs. A leftover from the military occupation of the temple are bullet holes in the timber frames that were inflicted during target practice.

In 1929, the temple was converted into the Jixian Village Normal School. A basketball court was built inside the temple and some of the stone steps were removed for this purpose. A plaque in the temple was removed, used as a bell for the school. There are traces of military demolition inside the temple, but it is generally well preserved. In the early 1930s, Dule Temple was studied by Japanese scholar Sadako Sekino and Chinese scholar Liang Sicheng, the author of China's first modern history on Chinese architecture.

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