There is a legend in Baiyun Temple in the suburbs of Beijing that "there is no trace of immortals, only stone monkeys are left in the view". Three stone monkeys are hidden in the three corners of the temple, so there is also the saying that "the iron hits Baiyun Temple and the three monkeys don't meet". The plaque of Baiyunguan is made of pig iron, which means that it is expected to be firm and lasting, just like iron casting, so it has the reputation of "Iron Baiyunguan". "Three monkeys don't meet" means that three small stone monkeys are hiding in different places. If you don't look for them sincerely, it's hard to see them.

According to legend, these three stone monkeys are golden monkey, spirit monkey and god monkey. Pilgrims and tourists visiting Baiyun Temple in Beijing often look for monkeys and touch them. It is said that there are three carved monkeys in Baiyun Temple. If you touch them one by one, you will be blessed. All three places are reliefs, and the carvers are very small. If it's the first time, it's not easy to find them all. For example, the one near the ticket gate seems to be hidden there on purpose, but it still feels round and bright. Carving a monkey on the bridge fence has blue significance, because the monkey belongs to the god genus and is responsible for water.

The first stone monkey, Shanmen Stone Monkey, means "Don't say anything if you are indecent".

The three stone monkeys in Baiyun Temple have different positions and different symbolic meanings. Usually you can see the first stone monkey as soon as you enter Baiyun Temple. The first stone monkey was carved on the bottom of the relief on the east side of the main entrance of Taoist temple. The whole relief is called "Li Kan Broad Map", which is not only surrounded by auspicious clouds, but also carved with six lifelike cranes. The homonym "Liuhe" is used to mean "Gankun Yunhua" and "Liuhe Tongxiang".

Ancient Taoism emphasized health and longevity, while the monkey head, which is good at climbing and agile, is a symbol of longevity and wisdom. The Taoist School "Cloud Seven Signs" once said: "The immortals in ancient times and the Taoists in the Han Dynasty guided the technique and took care of the apes, leading their waists and moving their joints so as not to get old easily." This means that people can activate their muscles and bones by imitating apes, achieve the effect of flexible body and quick action, achieve the balance and harmony between heaven and earth and the human body itself, and thus prolong life. Therefore, the stone monkey in the painting also means to live in the aura of heaven and earth, which is helpful to Gankun's fortune. In addition, the first stone monkey also symbolizes the Taoist saying of "don't say anything if you are indecent". There are all kinds of Cao Zhi in the stone monkey, which also expresses the Taoist concept of being a vegetarian and abandoning inner greed.

The second stone monkey-the stone monkey on the side wall means "see no evil"

Crossing the Shimen and entering Baiyun Temple, brick walls on both sides of the road are also carved with many different styles of brick carvings, while a second stone monkey is carved on the base of the eight-character shadow wall in the west. The appearance of this stone monkey is similar to that of the first stone monkey, which continues the exquisiteness and agility of the first one. Although it has been blurred, its charm and spirituality remain the same. A closer look shows that the stone monkey in the brick carving has not turned away, which also implies the Taoist doctrine of "see no evil", that is, in the face of fame and fortune, you are unmoved, out of sight, out of mind.

"Taoism follows the example of heaven and earth and advocates nature. The homonym of "monkey" is climate "Hou", so "touching monkey" means touching (following) the seasonal climate change and following the principle of "Taoism is natural". If you find the principle of life, you can be calm and healthy.

The third stone monkey, the stone monkey, means "don't listen to evil words"

Walking towards Leizu Temple in Guannei, after entering the East Courtyard, the first thing you see is the "Nine Emperors Meeting Monument", which was built in the 14th year of Qing Daoguang (AD 1834) to commemorate the merits of pilgrims in Baiyun Temple. The third stone monkey is carved on one side of the base of this monument. Compared with the first two stone monkeys, the third stone monkey is slightly larger, about ten centimeters, and its image is clearer. This stone monkey stands on a rock with one foot, touching his forehead and ears with one hand, and holding a flat peach with the other, much like the Monkey King. This situation also confirms the Taoist doctrine of "not listening to evil words".

The fourth and fifth new stone monkeys-monkeys are the most popular among the 12 zodiac signs.

1989 During the Spring Festival, the fourth stone monkey was carved on the stone tablet next to Wofeng Bridge, except that this stone monkey was bigger, about 20 cm high, kneeling under a peach tree and holding a peach as a gift.

Chenyuan Temple is one of the temples with the highest incense in Baiyun Temple. Especially at the beginning of each new year, countless people come to pay homage to their sacred core monuments, so as to make the year go smoothly. 1993, Baiyunguan asked someone to build a relief engraved with the pattern of "Zodiac" on the west wall opposite Chenyuan Temple. The relief is about 10 m long and about 1 m high, and 12 animals are arranged in turn. Probably influenced by the custom of "touching the monkey", people who come here like to touch their own animals for blessing, among which the monkey naturally attracts the most attention, and it has also become the fifth "god monkey" in Baiyun Temple.