Pavilion of Rain of Flowers in the Forbidden City

After the style of the ancient Tibetan temple Tholing, the Pavilion of Rain of Flowers in the Forbidden City was first built in the ninth year of the Qianlong Period (1744). With its copper roof shiny in the sunshine, four unique copper dragons on its roof and Tibetanstyled decorations under its roof, the Pavilion seems to have three floors but actually consists of four floors. It is a typical Tibetan feature that between the outer and inner beams there is a dragon Coming outwards.

Its four floors respectively symbolize the four stages of Buddhist practice. In the center of each floor, there is a niche for the red copper Buddhist statues corresponding to each stage of the Tantric practice. In the days for worshipping Buddha, the Qing court would send lamas to chant sutras in different floors. In the side building on the east, the painting of the Living Buddha and national preceptor, Zhangjia the third is worshiped and id there is one hanging screen showing the image of Qianlong as the Bodhisattva Manjusri; The painting of the Sixth Panchen Lama, who passed away in the Temple of the West Yellow Sect during his stay in h Beijing for congratulating on Qianlong’ s birthday in the 45th year of the Qianlong period (1780), is in the side building on the west. The Tower of Buddhist Origin now preserves the firelock and gunpowder container presented to Emperor Qianlong by him.

Relevant attractions in the Forbidden City

Hall of Literary Brilliance
Pavilion of Literary Profundity
Palace of Benevolent Tranquility
Hall of Eminent Flowers
Hall of Central Uprightness
Pavilion of Rain of Flowers
Palace of Double Glories
Lodge of Fresh Fragrance
Garden of Creating Happiness
The Three Southern Courtyards
The Hall of Gathering Fragrance