Temple of Cangsheng

Temple of Cangsheng

The Temple of Cangsheng is a cultural heritage site protected at the municipal level in Jiaxing.

The Temple of Cangsheng is located on Xiaoyingzhou Island in Nanhu Community, Nanhu Subdistrict, Nanhu District, Jiaxing City, commonly known as the Little Scenic Rain Tower. Originally built during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty by the local civil organization "Xi Zi Hui" (Character Respect Society) to commemorate Cangjie, the traditional legendary creator of Chinese writing, it was renovated in the 13th year of the Republic of China (1924) through the advocacy and fundraising efforts of the renowned Jiaxing figure Jin Rongjing, and later restored to its original appearance after the liberation. The temple features traditional Jiangnan architectural style, constructed with brick and wood, facing south, and covering an area of over 90 square meters. It has three bays in width and two bays in depth, with an overall width of 12.90 meters and depth of 8.70 meters. The roof beam structure is of the raised-beam type, featuring inner four spans with single-step extensions at the front and rear. The beams rest on bracket arms without the use of dougong (bracket sets), and the column bases are shaped like upturned bowls, adorned with entwined floral patterns. It has a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, covered with pantiles, with a fish-scale-patterned ridge, bright eaves that flair upwards, and dragon-headed roof ornaments. The entire temple is richly yet elegantly decorated, magnificent and rustic in style, having once earned praise from gardening experts in Suzhou. The structure is surrounded by corridors and steps, faces a lotus release pond, is encircled by water on all sides, looks southward toward the Scenic Rain Tower on South Lake, with weeping willows and ornamental rocks dotting the landscape, while to the north it is backed by an artificial hill, with winding paths leading via a round-hall chamber and zigzag bridge to connect with the lakeside. Nestled among greenery, flowers, rocks, and lake waters, the temple appears even more spectacular and exquisitely crafted. With its unique design and beautiful surroundings, the Temple of Cangsheng stands as a testament to Jiaxing’s long history and boasts considerable artistic and historical value. It was designated as a municipal-level cultural heritage site in Jiaxing in 1981.

Source: Jiaxing Cultural Relics Protection Office

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