The Mahavira Hall of Xingtou Xingyun Temple

The Mahavira Hall of Xingtou Xingyun Temple

The Mahavira Hall of Xingtou Xingyun Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Fu'an City.

The Mahavira Hall of Xingtou Xingyun Temple is located in Xingtou Village, Xibang Town, Fu'an City. Dating back to the Qianlong Bing Shen year (1776) during the Qing Dynasty, it is classified as an ancient architectural structure.

It is situated in the mountains on Xingda Road in Xingtou Village, approximately 300 meters south of the village. Originally built during the Song Dynasty's Yuánfú era (1098–1100), it has been repaired through the ages, with the current structure being rebuilt in the Qianlong Bing Shen year (1776) of the Qing Dynasty. The hall faces northeast and is a wooden, palace-style building, measuring 20 meters in width and 11 meters in depth, covering a total area of 220 square meters. The central axis of the complex includes a front hall and the Mahavira Hall, with the front hall being newly constructed. The Mahavira Hall features five bays in width and six columns in depth, with the central column removed from the main bay. It is surrounded by eaves corridors on all sides. Inside the hall, a Ming Dynasty Zhengde-era shrine is preserved. This four-tiered stone shrine bears inscriptions indicating its age, and both side altars feature relief carvings. The ceiling of the main and side bays contains a total of nine caisson ceilings. The second stone pillar on the right is inscribed with “Rebuilt in the Qianlong Bing Shen year (1776) of the Qing Dynasty, donated by the resident monk Dayong along with his personal assets,” while the left pillar also bears inscriptions. Four massive, sturdy octagonal bluestone pillars lend the hall a grand, solemn, and majestic atmosphere. The temple also houses several Song Dynasty stone Sumeru pedestal carvings and a Song Dynasty stone water trough. As one of the city’s earlier and comparatively well-preserved temples, it holds significant value for the study of early temple architecture and religious history in the region.

On February 20, 2013, the People's Government of Fu'an City designated it as part of the fifth batch of municipal-level cultural relic protection units.

Protected area: An extension of 5 meters beyond the surrounding walls of the building.

Xibang Town: With a history of over 750 years, Xibang Town covers 128.4 square kilometers of red revolutionary land and is home to 33,000 residents of the old revolutionary base area. Revolutionary leaders such as Deng Zihui, Tao Zhu, Zeng Zhi, Ye Fei, Ma Lifeng, Shi Lin, and Zhang Shaolian once led and carried out revolutionary struggles in eastern Fujian here, earning the town the nickname “Yan’an of Eastern Fujian.” Xibang Town boasts beautiful mountains and rivers, outstanding people, abundant resources, and convenient transportation. The Ningde Regional Agricultural Research Institute, agricultural science and technology park, modern agriculture pilot town, and regional leadership command fields form an intertwined agricultural technology network within the town. The integration of Bai Zhu and emerging industrial zones is thriving. ... More details about Xibang Town ++

Further reading:

· Fifth Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relic Protection Units in Fu'an City