1. GREAT BELL TEMPLE(Da Zhong Si)

　

Situated in Haidian in the northwestern suburbs, the temple was built in 
1732 in the reign of Emperor YongZheng of the Qing Dynasty. Its original
name is Temple of Awakening (Jueshengsi), and because of the famous
bell it houses it has popularly been known as the Great Bell Temple. It is
the largest bell in China and the second largest in the world. Originally
it was one to the six to be hung at the six corners of the city walls to 
strike the hours, but now it is the only re maining one.
　
　
The Bell is also know as the Avatamsaka Bell because it bears the full text of all 81 volumes of the Lotus Scripture(the Avatamsaka Sutra). 
It is sometimes referred to as the Yongle Bell since it was cast by the order of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty in 1406. 
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
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Last modified: July.5, 2002

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