Dongyue Tianqi Temple

Dongyue Tianqi Temple

Dongyue Tianqi Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Dongyue Tianqi Temple is located in Hegumiao Village in the southeastern part of Pingxiang County, Xingtai City. Legend has it that the temple was first built during the Warring States period of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (475–221 BC). A Taoist priest from Mount Tai was on his way west to preach at Mount Hua when he passed through this area. He saw nine main roads converging here, which from a distance resembled nine dragon mouths joining together — known as the “Nine-Dragon Convergence.” Observing the landform, he concluded it was an ideal feng shui location for constructing a temple and cultivating spiritual practice. After careful consideration, the priest decided to build a grand temple here to promote Taoism. At the time, due to the sparse population, relying solely on donations from local devotees was insufficient, so he allocated funds from his own monastery, personally designed the project, supervised the construction, and eventually completed the temple. Because the temple’s establishment was related to Mount Tai, it was named Dongyue Tianqi Temple.

Dongyue Tianqi Temple. First built during the Warring States period (475–221 BC), the temple covers an area of 28 mu, including 14 mu of reserve land, 93 temple buildings, and 42 auxiliary rooms, totaling 135 rooms. It includes the Palace of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity, the Goddess of Mercy Hall, the God of Wealth Hall, the King Wen Hall, the King of Hell Hall, the Medicine King Hall, the Dragon Mother Palace, the Three Maidens Hall, the Bixia Palace, the Doumu Palace, the Hall of the Benevolent Sage Emperor, the Sleeping Mother Hall, the Heavenly Mother Hall, the Carefree Palace, the Three Pure Ones Hall, the Jade Emperor Pavilion, the Ghost King Hall, the Fire God Temple, the Celestial Master Mansion, the Bell and Drum Tower, and 115 statues of deities. The temple also houses a large bell whose sound can be heard across five townships (the five villages surrounding the temple), four counties (Pingxiang, Guangzong, Qiuxian, and Quzhou), and even reaches the borders of two provinces (Qiuxian was under Shandong during the Qin Dynasty, while Pingxiang belonged to Julu Commandery in Hebei Province). It is said that Emperor Qin Shi Huang personally visited the temple to offer incense during his eastern tour.

In the early Tang Dynasty, Emperor Li Shimin, wishing to trace his noble lineage, recognized Laozi (Li Er) as his ancestor. While allowing the practice of other religions, he held Taoism in particularly high esteem. He decreed that the entire nation study the Dao De Jing, and in the 15th year of the Zhenguan era (641 AD), he dispatched the capable general Yu Chijingde to rebuild Dongyue Tianqi Temple. At that time, the scale of this temple was among the largest east of Chang’an. Emperor Gaozong of Tang even sent his young daughter to become a nun at KunDao in this temple. As a result, Emperor Taizong ordered the expansion of Taiping Guan, Jinxian Guan, and Yuzhen Guan, and renamed Dongyue Tianqi Temple as “Taiping Guan.”

During the Song Dynasty, merchants from various regions raised funds to renovate the front hall and the east and west wing rooms. After discussions between the temple abbot and multiple stakeholders, the name “Taiping Guan” was reverted back to its original title, “Dongyue Tianqi Temple.”

By the Ming Dynasty, this area had become a bustling hub of merchants. On market days, the fourth and ninth of each month, traders came from far and wide — some carrying goods on shoulder poles, others pushing carts, creating a scene of lively activity. The crowd extended from the immediate vicinity of the temple to locations over a hundred li away. During the Yongle era, following imperial orders for relocation, the Yao family migrated here from Hongtong. As their settlement was west of the Zhang River and east of Dongyue Tianqi Temple, they named it Hegumiao. The temple was also renovated and expanded. The 11th-generation Taoist priest Duan Xingli of the Wudang Langmei sect developed followers here, and Hegumiao Village had the highest number of Taoists, becoming a renowned “Taoist village” of the time.

During the Qing Dynasty, as the popularity of Dongyue Tianqi Temple grew, the market trade rapidly expanded and the economy flourished like never before. The temple underwent further renovations, including the second hall and the opera tower, bringing the total number of temple buildings to 208.

In 1923, bandit leader Pang Bingxun and his gang occupied the temple. To accommodate his troops, he carried out extensive demolitions, tearing down all structures except the main hall. During his occupation, Pang and his men engaged in widespread robbery and atrocities. After Pang left, the Japanese army set up a watchtower here, executing Communists, persecuting revolutionaries, looting property, and committing countless evils. Dongyue Tianqi Temple suffered its most devastating destruction in history.

Starting in 1995, after Dongyue Tianqi Temple was approved as a Taoist activity site, under the enthusiastic advocacy of the temple’s management committee led by Yao Baoliang, the front hall with five rooms was rebuilt in May 1997 and thirteen deity statues were installed. In 1998, the Three Pure Ones Hall, Jade Emperor Hall, Guan Di Hall, Medicine King Hall, Salvation Hall, King of Hell Hall, the mountain gate, and statues of Cihang, Wangling, along with fifty-one other deity statues were added. Buildings constructed included the main hall, the East Three Pure Ones Hall, Jade Emperor Hall (four rooms), Guan Di, Medicine King, Salvation Hall, mountain gate (three rooms), King of Hell Hall (six rooms). In 1999, additional work included the main hall, West Doumu Hall (one room), Yuanjun Hall (three rooms), East wing (five rooms), the far northeast wing (four rooms), West wing (five rooms – including Three Maidens Hall and Dragon Mother Palace), Cihang Hall (three rooms), and eighteen deity statues. In 2000, the temple grounds were landscaped with hundreds of trees planted. In 2001, the rear hall with five rooms was built — tall and majestic, featuring a broad viewing platform, bluestone railings, a double-dragon water-spouting feature, and twin lions flanking the railing, with twenty-two deity statues inside. South of the mountain gate’s east side, three rooms were built housing five statues of the Three Stars. In 2002, the Bell and Drum Towers were renovated (four rooms total, two floors), with bells audible from afar and drums echoing loudly. To the rear right, four more rooms were built, housing statues of Wushengmu, the Nine Heavens Queen Mother, Huo Laolao, and one room for the Sleep Mother Hall with four deity statues. In 2003, the Bagua Furnace, Fire God Hall, and Celestial Master Mansion were built (one room each), with two deity statues added. By 2004, the temple had largely been restored to its original appearance, with 115 deity statues and 135 rooms covering a construction area of over 10 mu.

Transportation Guide

Address: Miaoqian Road, Hegumiao Village, Hegumiao Town, Pingxiang County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province

Getting There: Take a bus from within Pingxiang County headed to Hegumiao Town, then transfer to a minibus to Dongyue Temple.