The Minzhong Temple is known today as the Fayuan Temple in Beijing. The temple was built by Emperor Li Shimin to mourn and salvage the lost souls in his failed attempt to conquer Goguryeo. The inscriptions began by making a reference to Emperor Wen of Sui’s distribution of sarira and the miracles related to sariras. The nearby stupa housing sarira, built in the Sui dynasty, was hit and destroyed by thunder during the reign of Emperor Wenzong of Tang, and then the persecution against Buddhism by Emperor Wuzong devastated the Minzhong Temple as well. The monastery was finally repaired when Buddhism revived under the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, and the sarira was then relocated to the refurbished monastery.
The sarira was then transferred to a newly-built Pavilion of Avalokitasvara Bodhisattva after a fire broke up at the Minzhong Temple. The monks on one hand felt lucky that they lived in a time when the emperors showed strong patronage to Buddhism, and on the other hand, took great precautions against any future persecution against Buddhism. The stele was erected as a record and reminder of how the sarira was passed down as a manifestation of Buddhist Dharma.
The sarira was then transferred to a newly-built Pavilion of Avalokitasvara Bodhisattva after a fire broke up at the Minzhong Temple. The monks on one hand felt lucky that they lived in a time when the emperors showed strong patronage to Buddhism, and on the other hand, took great precautions against any future persecution against Buddhism. The stele was erected as a record and reminder of how the sarira was passed down as a manifestation of Buddhist Dharma.
- Item No.
- 07833
- Period
- 892
- Dimensions
- 56.5×96
- Excavated/Findspot
- Unearthed and currently stored at the Fayuan temple, Beijing
![Dedicatory Inscription by […] Xiong](_upload/image/collection_item/thumbnail/69956de4331232d2.jpg)
