Jie Tai Temple, or Jie Tan Temple (the temple of the altar) is situated on Ma'an hillside of the Western Hills in Beijing 25 kilometers from Beijing. First built in the reign of the first emperor of the Sui Dynasty (581- 600) and named as Hui Ju Temple, it has a history of over 1,400 years. In the reign of Xianyong of the Liao Dynasty (1065-1074), a monk named Fa Jun built the altar here. Later during the Jin, Ming and Qing Dynasties, Buddhist Monks came all the way to build temples here and help people attain full monks status. In the reign of Zhengtong Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the temple was renamed Wanshou (Longevity). As ceremony of attaining monkhood used to be held here, it is also called Jie Tan Temple (Jie means Buddhist percepts and Tan means altar). Along with Zhaoqing Temple in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province and Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, it is one of China's Three Altars. The altar in this temple of Beijing is the largest one among the three altars, hence an honorary title The First Jie Tan in China.
The buildings in JieTai Temple face east and are laid out orderly by the northern and southern axes. Along the Southern axis is Shan Men Hall, The Hall of Kings in Heaven, the Da Xiong Bao Hall, the Pavilion of 1000 Buddhas (the existent historic site) and the Guanyin Hall. On the northern axis lie Ming Wang Hall, Luo Han Hall (The Hall of Eighteen Disciples of the Buddha), the Altar Hall (JieTai Hall) and Dabei Hall. Besides, there are many featured courtyards including the Abbot's Courtyard, South Palace Courtyard, the Peony courtyard and the upper and lower courtyards.
The Temple of the Altar has long preserved precious cultural relics such as stone tablets and stone column carved with Buddhist scriptures through the Liao Dynasty till the Republic of China (1912-1949). Outside the temple there exist old paths and stone carvings. Jie Tan Temple is most well known for its unique pines and the altar.
At present, there are ten famous pines like Wo Long Pine (S1eeping Dragon Pine), Zi Zan Pine (Leisure Pine), Nine-Dragon Pine, Bao Ta Pine (Embracing Pagoda Pine) and Huo Dong Pine (Mobile Pine) as well as a 200-300 year old ancient lilac, a four-season Jin Dai, peony, Tai ping Flower and other ornamental tree and flowers.
In 1997 religious activities were permitted by the government to be restored in the temple. The first and fifteenth of every month of the lunar calendar are set as Buddhist Day for religious activities.
Nowadays, a hotel in the style of ancient architecture has been built. With its quiet environment and pleasant facilities, the hotel is an ideal place for the short stay of a family and conferences as well.
