Huangpu Courtyard

The Huangpu Courtyard was first built by Wanyan Jing, Emperor Zhang Zong of the Jin Dynasty, as his hunting abode. Being one of the eight major water courtyards in the west of Beijing, it is also called the Holy Water Courtyard. In 1437 (the second year of the reign of Emperor Zhengtong of the Ming Dynasty, it was given an imperial name: Miaojuechan Temple. In 1501 (the 14^th year of the Hongzhi reign), it was renamed the Ruiyun Temple of the Mingzhao Cave, or commonly called the Huanggu Temple. The temple has a leftover stone tablet, engraved with dragon, turtle and other patterns. The tablet inscription indicates that the Miaojuechan Temple was relocated from the “collapsed” Ruiyun Temple of the Mingzhao Cave. In the autumn of 1941, the temple was destroyed by the Japanese aggressors, leaving behind the ruins of the temple, the ginkgo tree and the ancient tablet.