Nianhua Temple 拈花寺 in Beijing

One of the reasons I stayed in Beijing in Nov. 2016 was to visit the Nianhua Temple 拈花寺. This Ming temple was renovated by Emperor Yongzheng 雍正 who appointed his favorite monks to be abbots. I mentioned this temple in my book Enlightenment in Dispute in page 171. The Linji Master Yuxuan Chaoding 玉铉超鼎, who also studied Huayan Buddhism, resided in Nianhua monastery. He was likely Muchen Daomin's 木陈道忞 dharma heir. After Yongzheng died, this monk suffered persecution during the Qianlong reign. This temple was not open to the public and has been the point of dispute between Buddhists and Remin University. Thankfully, the dispute has been solved and the temple has been returned for renovation.