Five Pagoda Temple

The Diamond Throne Pagoda of Zhenjue Temple, often called the Five-Pagoda Temple, is a rare Chinese example of the Indo-Buddhist Vajrasana form. The pagoda was built in 1473 under the Chenghua emperor, inspired by a model of Bodh Gaya presented to the earlier Yongle court. A massive stone plinth carved with Buddha figures, lions, elephants and Sanskrit inscriptions carries five small stupas arranged in the classical mandala pattern. The rest of the temple was lost during the Republican period, so today the platform stands free within the Beijing Stone Carving Art Museum. Visitors can circle the plinth, pick out hundreds of details, and enjoy a quiet park setting near Beijing Zoo.