Dong'e Jingjue Temple

Dong'e Jingjue Temple

Dong'e Jingjue Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

Dong'e Jingjue Temple is located 500 meters northeast of Gaoshang Village, Liujizhen, Dong'e County, and is currently a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit.

Dong'e Jingjue Temple was first built in the third year of Daguan during the Northern Song Dynasty (1109). In the sixth year of the Ming Dynasty's Zhengtong era (1441), the monk Pu Jin renovated the temple. In the ninth year of the Republic of China (1920), Zhang Huaizhi, then military governor and governor of Shandong Province, further expanded the temple and converted it into a free school.

Dong'e Jingjue Temple faces south and covers an area of 6,605 square meters. To the north of the bell and drum towers are the East and West Guanyin Halls and the Dizang Hall. Each of the two halls is three bays wide, with a total height of 7.2 meters, featuring arched doors and windows, supported by two eave pillars, with brick steps leading to the top, covered with gray tiles, and floral patterns painted on the eave brackets, all with lifelike designs. The Mahavira Hall is located at the center of the temple complex, spanning five bays in width and three in depth, with four doors, straight lattice windows, and a wooden structure. The hall is supported by 16 pillars, with the pillar tops connected by architraves and plank beams. The pillar bases are of the ancient mirror style, and the roof ridge rises high, with a total height of about 8.8 meters. Currently preserved structures include the Mahavira Hall, the Heavenly King Hall, the Dizang Hall, the Guanyin Hall, the Scripture Depository, and the Bell and Drum Towers. The architectural layout follows the traditional Chinese central-axis symmetrical form. The Heavenly King Hall is situated between the east and west gate fences, spanning three bays, with a total height of 8.3 meters. At the center of the front wall above is inlaid a plaque inscribed with the characters “Jingjue Temple” in regular script and carved in intaglio. On both sides of the Heavenly King Hall are the Bell and Drum Towers, which have higher steps, built of brick and stone, 1.8 meters above the ground, with circular windows and sawtooth and triangular patterns along the edges. The first floor is supported by two eave pillars and contains a staircase 3.85 meters high with 30 steps, and the floor is made of laid wooden planks. The hall features exquisitely carved beams and painted decorations, with refined yet unpretentious designs. Behind the Mahavira Hall is the Scripture Depository, a two-story structure spanning three bays, built of brick and stone, with arched doors and windows, a gray tile roof, and a total height of about 11.5 meters. The eave brackets are carved with qilin figures, and floral patterns are painted, all vividly rendered, fully demonstrating the wisdom and artistic achievements of ancient Chinese craftsmen.

All buildings of Dong'e Jingjue Temple are of the flush-gable style and are entirely constructed of brick and stone. In terms of design and construction techniques, a symmetrical central-axis layout is adopted, arranged in an orderly fashion, forming a complete architectural ensemble that holds significant cultural relic value.

Gaoshang Village: Gaoshang Village…… More details about Gaoshang Village++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units