After the fall of the Qing Empire in the 19th century, most part of the temple were ruined in wars and natural disasters.

[2][3] During the Second Sino-Japanese War, prominent Buddhist masters like Taixu and Hsu Yun resided in the temple chanting and practicing scriptures.

Qianming Temple was badly damaged during the ten years devastating Cultural Revolution.

Almost all of the valuable Buddhist scriptures and historical documents, Buddha statues, and other works of art were either removed, damaged or destroyed.

[2][3] After the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, according to the national policy of free religious belief, regular scripture lectures, meditation and other features of temple life were resumed.

Under the eaves is a plaque with the Chinese characters "Dabei Pavilion" written by Zhao Puchu, the then president of the Buddhist Association of China.