Lixian Chenghuang Temple

Lixian Chenghuang Temple

Lixian Chenghuang Temple is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Zhejiang Province.

Lixian Chenghuang Temple is located on Shangjie Street in Yutou Town, Jiangshan City, Zhejiang Province. It was first built in the late Southern Song Dynasty, and the existing structure was reconstructed in the sixth year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1880). The temple complex includes a gate tower, entrance hall, corridor, bedroom hall, side courtyards on both sides, and a courtyard (the original stage and Cui Xian Pavilion have been destroyed).

It is said that the temple was nearly destroyed during the Japanese occupation of China. At that time, the Japanese piled firewood in front of the temple and attempted to set it on fire. The temple’s caretaker managed to extinguish the flames while the Japanese were away, thus preserving the temple to this day. The Chenghuang Temple is now managed by the temple management committee.

According to historical records, the original Chenghuang Temple was destroyed by fire in the thirteenth year of the Tongzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1874). With funding raised from various sources, it was rebuilt during the Guangxu reign. A stage was originally located in front of the temple, and a “Cui Xian Pavilion” stood to its right front. Today, only the Chenghuang Temple remains.

The temple faces west and has a convex-shaped layout, covering an area of approximately 600 square meters. It features three symmetrical horse-head walls. The overall layout consists of two sections with five bays, four courtyards, one passageway hall, and two wing rooms. The main entrance is adorned with a triple-eaved gate tower with upturned corners, connected by decorative floral arches. The beams, brackets, corbels, and spandrels are carved with patterns of figures, landscapes, flowers, and birds. The beam frames in the first and second sections are a combination of raised-beam and through-tenon styles. The central and side bays feature four pillars and seven purlins, while the end bays use a through-tenon system with five pillars. Both the front and rear corridors have coffered ceilings. The beams and brackets are carved with bas-reliefs of figures and floral designs. The building houses over thirty Buddha statues, including the King of Hell and the Black and White Impermanence.

The Chenghuang Temple is well-preserved, featuring exquisitely carved gate towers and a grand architectural scale. The traditional temple fairs are held annually on the 15th days of the fifth and tenth lunar months, offering valuable historical insights into religious and folk culture. On January 7, 2011, Lixian Chenghuang Temple was designated as a provincial-level cultural heritage site.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites