Shipu Chenghuang Temple

Shipu Chenghuang Temple

Shipu Chenghuang Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The temple was built in the early Ming Dynasty. According to historical records, it underwent maintenance and renovation during the Qianlong, Daoguang, and Guangxu reigns of the Qing Dynasty, and minor repairs were also made during the Republic of China period. It is a temple building from the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty.

The architectural complex is divided into primary and secondary axes. Along the main axis, from south to north, are the gate tower combined with a rear-facing stage tower connected to the front theater, the main hall, and the rear rear-facing stage tower connected to the rear theater (including the original rear hall, etc.), with wing rooms on both sides of the front and rear courtyards. The main hall has a total width of 25.35 meters and a total depth of 11.8 meters. The central and side bays feature a post-and-lintel construction system, using four pillars for a nine-rafter structure with double-step corridors in the front and back. The rest employ a combination of post-and-lintel and column-and-tie construction. The front porch has a rolled shed roof. Interior beams, hanging lotus columns, and other elements are adorned with carvings. The front porch beams and the column capitals are intricately carved, with brackets featuring round sculptures of inverted lions, dragons, and phoenixes that are exquisitely crafted. The front and rear theaters are exquisitely built with distinct styles: the front theater’s caisson ceiling features layered bracket sets, while the rear theater’s caisson ceiling spirals inward using false bracket arms in a helical pattern, remaining largely intact. The front porch and the rear wing’s projecting eave corridor also have rolled shed roofs. Temple decorations primarily consist of wood carvings, supplemented by stone carvings, brick carvings, and polychrome sculptures.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Zhejiang Province