Taoranting Park: A public paradise
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A stone pillar inscribed with Buddhist prayers from the Jin dynasty is on display in the Cibei Temple. [Photo:CRIENGLISH.com] |
Cibei Temple, or the Temple of Mercy, was constructed in the center of the park during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and houses Buddhist stone scripture pillars from the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) and the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234). Today, the temple's rooms hold memorials to famous revolutionaries who once conducted secret meetings in the adjoining Taoran pavilion.
The pavilion and temple have long been a favorite hangout for imperial officials and scholars visiting the capital to study for the imperial examination. In 1898, Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao and Tan Sitong came here to plan the Reform Movement, marking the beginning of the pavilion's revolutionary life. Sun Yat-sen attended political meetings in the pavilion during the Republic of China's early years. The height of progressive activity, however, was on August 6, 1920, when five progressive societies met in the pavilion. The attendees included Li Dazhao and Mao Zedong.
Despite the park's exciting and long history, it was not particularly beautiful until 1952 when the People's Republic of China transformed the park's stale, overgrown pond into a scenic lake and began maintaining the gardens.
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