Dazhao Lamasery

Overview
 

Location

Dazhao Lamasery, is called "Ih Ju Zhao" (meaning a big temple), is situated in Dazhao-qian Street, Yuquan District, Hohhot. It is the largest temple from the Yellow Sect of Buddhism in the entire city.

History

The lamasery was built by Alatan Khan--chief of Tumd Mongolian Tribe in the 7th year of Wanli Age of the Ming Dynasty. The name "Hongci Temple" was given by the imperial court of the Ming Dynasty. The name was changed into Wuliang Temple after the Qing Dynasty. As a silver Buddha Statue which is 2.5 meters high is enshrined and worshiped in the lamasery, Dazhao Lamasery is also called "Silver Buddha Temple". Dazhao Lamasery an "Imperial Temple". Dazhao Lamasery is the earliest temple of Lamaism which was built in Inner Mongolia in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Features

This Dazhao Lamasery was built with elegant features. The main hall was built after the style of Tibetan Lamasery, while the other parts were built in a more traditional style that may be regularly seen in other lamaseries across China. There is a consecrated silver portrait of Buddha located in the main hall. Though the portrait of Buddha has a long history of 400 years, it has been well preserved through the years. Because of this the Dazhao Lamasery is also named Yinfo Lamasery (Silver Buddha Lamasery). 

The Dazhao Lamasery has a collection of many precious religious and cultural relics, among which the silver Buddha, dragon sculpture, and fresco are the most cherished treasures. Of its abundant religious relics perhaps the most notable are the ’Three Marvelous Treasures’, a title given to the Silver Buddha, the carved dragons on the huge golden pillars on either side of the statue and the murals commemorating the Emperor’s visit. 

Besides the main hall, the existing buildings within the temple complex are nearly all in the Han style. The main hall is a lamasery combining both Tibetan and Han styles of architecture. It has three parts. The front part is a two-story hall with an empty pavilion in the first floor; Jing Tang (the hall for chanting) and Fo Tang (the hall for worshiping Buddha) are central and rear sections. The perfectly preserved Silver Buddha lies in Fo Tang as it has for some four hundred years. In the splendid and solemn front of the hall, there is a pair of iron lions with their heads held high.

Features
The largest temple from the Yellow Sect of Buddhism in the entire city