Lin Gong Zhongping King Ancestral Hall

Lin Gong Zhongping King Ancestral Hall

Lin Gong Zhongping King Ancestral Hall is a cultural relic protection unit of Fujian Province.

Era: Ming to Qing

Address: Shan Yang Village, Ma Kou Township, Zhou Ning County, Ningde City, Fujian Province, China.

The hall was first built in the eighth year of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty (1513), and the Prince Pavilion was added in the tenth year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1809). The temple faces south and is 17.27 meters wide and 24.38 meters deep, with a total construction area of 421 square meters. The main hall is three bays wide and three bays deep, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof supported by a post-and-lintel system (with central columns supporting beams), and is built from earth and wood. In front of the main hall is the Prince Pavilion, which features a triple-eave hip-and-gable roof. On its rooftop stands a stone plaque inscribed with “Bestowed Lin Gong Zhongping King Ancestral Hall” and a stele commemorating the construction of the temple, both remnants from the Ming Dynasty. To the left and right are the bell and drum towers, designed with double-eave hip-and-gable roofs and post-and-lintel structures. Their tiled ridges are adorned with clay carvings, all well preserved.

At the center of the roof of the Lin Gong Hall hangs a plaque inscribed with “Bestowed Lin Gong Zhongping Marquis King.” In the middle of the sacred hall are statues of Lin Gong and various deities, each with distinct expressions, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of the sculptures at the time. The stone pillars in the hall have diameters of over 30 centimeters and lengths of more than three meters. Each bluestone slab along the edge of the hall is over three meters long, with smooth surfaces, reflecting the immense financial resources invested in constructing this temple. At the front of the main hall is a row of bas-reliefs depicting figures, flowers, pavilions, and towers. These reliefs feature smooth surfaces, fine carving, and masterful techniques, demonstrating the exceptional skill of the artisans of that era. Aside from the stone carvings, the temple also houses many murals and wooden carved column capitals. Notably, these wooden carvings are located on the mid-height column tops along the corridors on both sides of the temple. Each capital is 20 centimeters square, intricately carved with patterns of mythological figures and flowers. The designs are exquisitely detailed, with dense and sparse elements harmoniously arranged, some sections so finely connected they resemble threads, while others are open and airy—truly masterpieces of wood carving.

This hall is a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit, categorized as ancient architecture. It is among the sixth batch of Fujian Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units, officially announced on May 11, 2005.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites