Posted 2018/11/6
Dule Temple 独乐寺 is more than 1,000 years old and consists of a complex of grand structures. In Dule Temple you can see the oldest multi-storied wooden pavilion in China and The Kwan-yin statue, one of the biggest clay sculptures preserved in China.
Dule Temple of Tianjin also called Solitary Joy Temple was built in the early reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty (618-907). It was also an important historic area, and it was said that An Lushan who was the prefecture military governor of Tang Dynasty and the adopted son of Concubine Yang Yuhuan and Emperor Xuanzong(someone also considered An Lushan was the secret lover of Concubine Yang Yuhuan, and his rebellion against Tang Government was mianly for this lady), once gave oath in Dule Temple to rebel against the Tang Dynasty.
Dule Temple is comprised of east, west and central parts, with monks' rooms and Xanadus in the east and west parts, and the temple gate and the Kwan-yin Pavilion in the central part. According to historical record, in the second year (984) of the Tonghe reign, the temple was rebuilt. Except the temple gate and Kwan-yin Pavilion built in the Liao Dynasty (916-1125), other buildings in the temple were all built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911).