Jinan Xingfu Temple

Jinan Xingfu Temple

Jinan Xingfu Temple is a Shandong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Unit.

Xingfu Temple is located southwest of Yanma Village, Duanzhan Town, Huaiyin District. It was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit of Jinan City in 1979, and was upgraded to a Shandong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Unit in December 2006. The temple faces south and currently consists of two courtyards, with only the main hall, east and west wing rooms, rear hall, and four ancient trees remaining. According to the *Huaiyin District Annals*, the temple originally had four courtyards and included a mountain gate, main hall, rear hall, bedroom hall, and east and west side rooms, covering a total area of 1,900 square meters. The temple was first built during the Song Dynasty, destroyed in the Yuan Dynasty, and rebuilt in the eighth year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty. It underwent renovations in the seventh year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1579 AD), the fiftieth year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1711 AD), and the twenty-second year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1757 AD). In the fourteenth year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1888 AD), a stone plaque inscribed with “Xingfu Temple” was erected, though its current whereabouts are unknown.

Although Xingfu Temple is a small temple, its architectural layout remains highly intact. The entire temple complex follows the traditional Chinese ancient architectural style, with a central axis and symmetrical layout on both sides. Each building is constructed on a raised platform, gradually ascending in height, with the rear hall being the tallest, giving the whole complex a majestic presence. Moreover, the architectural specifications of this group of buildings are notably high—the main hall and rear hall both feature hip-and-gable roofs, a form that is unique among small temples in Jinan. However, due to limited historical records about the temple, it is still unclear whether its initial construction was associated with significant historical events or figures, which might explain why its architectural standards exceed those of typical temples.

Aside from its relatively high architectural specifications, the beauty of Xingfu Temple also lies in the high artistic value of its reliefs and painted decorations. Although the existing east and west wing rooms have flush gable roofs with gray tiles, their main ridges feature high-relief brick carvings. At the center are two dragons playing with a pearl, flanked by carvings of deer, flying dragons, phoenixes, and mythical beasts resembling horses or sheep. Such exquisitely detailed relief patterns on the main ridges of the wing rooms are rare among temple buildings in Jinan.

The most important ancient structure in the temple is the main hall, which has a hip-and-gable roof with a main ridge and hip rafters covered in green glazed bricks adorned with relief patterns. The main ridge is carved with two dragons playing with a pearl, and the ends feature large ornamental ridge beasts. The main hall is five bays wide and three bays deep, with exquisite brackets (dougong) between the horizontal beams and the eaves rafters. Most excitingly, the interior paintings are well-preserved, vibrant, and striking. The main motifs are circular dragons, with each beam painted with a circular dragon design. All the dragons are gilded, showcasing exceptional painting techniques, and even the lotus flower reliefs are gilded. The color scheme and painting quality of the main hall’s interior decorations rank among the finest of Ming and Qing dynasty architectural paintings in the Jinan area.

The rear hall also features a hip-and-gable roof, with a main ridge adorned with a high-relief carving of two dragons playing with a pearl. The rear hall is three bays wide and three bays deep, with five beams, and brackets between the horizontal beams and the eaves rafters. The bracket arms are shaped like ruyi (scepter-like ornaments), a feature unique to the Jinan area. The painted designs on the beams remain vivid, featuring flying dragons and floral patterns, with the dragons’ bodies gilded. An inscription on the horizontal beam of the golden pillar reads: “Renovated in the winter month of the wuzi year, the fourteenth year of the Guangxu reign (1888 AD).” Records indicate that the temple’s abbot at the time was Monk Fatong, with his grandnephew Hui Pu serving as supervisor.

Xingfu Subdistrict: Established in November 2013 through the division of the former Duanzhan Town, Xingfu Subdistrict Office administers 12 villages and residential communities previously under Duanzhan Town, including Pengjiazhuang, Yanmazhuang, Yujiazhuang, Xiaoyinmazhuang, Xiaodongjiazhuang, Dajinzhuang, Youpai Zhao Village, Mengwangzhuang, Xiaojinzhuang, Danshantun, Weilizhuang, and the Jixi Residential Area. The subdistrict office is located at No. 66 Qizhou Road. [2]

Xingfu Subdistrict is situated in the new western urban area of Jinan, home to the high-speed railway hub of the West Railway Station. With convenient transportation and smooth roads, it serves as the western gateway to Jinan City. Known as the New Business District of Spring City, the New Urban Center, and the New Cultural Highland... More details about Xingfu Subdistrict ++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units