This imperial temple, built by the decree of Emperor Kangxi, boasts exquisite Tibetan Buddhist stone carvings

Compared to the Chaoyang South Pagoda, which has a history of more than nine hundred years, the history of Youshun Temple seems insignificant. However, it is one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist temples in Northeast China. This temple is commonly known as 'Lama Temple' by the locals. It was founded in the 37th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign (1698) and took eight years to complete. The scale and status of the temple were unparalleled in the Liaoxi region, and it was personally named 'Youshun Temple' by Emperor Kangxi, which means 'Heaven's blessing and the people's obedience, great virtue leads to universal harmony.' Now, Youshun Temple has primarily become a Han Buddhism temple. It covers an area of about 15,000 square meters. Although some of its affiliated buildings and Buddha statues were damaged in the early years, the main structure is well-preserved. In 2006, it was declared a national key cultural relics protection unit. ps: When I arrived, the temple was under maintenance, the main gate was locked, and I had to enter through a small door behind the side screen wall. On the archway in front of the Hall of Heavenly Kings, there are lifelike carvings of dragons, indicating that this is a royal temple. If you observe carefully, you will find that the inscription below the plaque of the Hall of Heavenly Kings is engraved in five languages: Manchu, Mongolian, Hui, Tibetan, and Han, with the words 'Erected on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the forty-third year of Emperor Kangxi of the Great Qing Dynasty.' On the archway at the back, there are carvings of the golden-winged Garuda and the Eight Treasures of Buddhism, which are distinct features of Tibetan Buddhism. The Mahavira Hall is the tallest building in the temple, and the Buddha statues inside were recently restored, offering little of interest. However, the twenty-three pieces of Tibetan Buddhist stone carvings embedded in the exterior wall of the hall are quite stunning. Particularly on the north side of the Mahavira Hall, among the thirteen stone carvings, the one in the center depicts the portrait of the founding abbot of Youshun Temple, Master Suzhuke Tu. Some of these carvings have clear dates and were made during the Qing Dynasty, while others, without specific dates, have a style more akin to the Jin and Yuan Dynasties. Therefore, some speculate that Youshun Temple may have been rebuilt on the site of an even older temple.