Shazipo Laojun Temple

Shazipo Laojun Temple

Shazipo Laojun Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Shazipo Laojun Temple is located on a sand dune in Shazipo Village, Nuquan Ancient Town, Yu County. It is a Ming and Qing dynasty structure. The temple faces south and features key buildings arranged along a central north-south axis: a theater stage, the mountain gate, the front hall (Sanqing Hall), the rear hall (Beiji Xuan Palace), as well as east and west side halls. The mountain gate has a five-rafter beam structure and a flush gable roof. Inside the mountain gate, there is…

Beyond the mountain gate lies the front hall (Sanqing Hall), which has a flush gable roof covered with gray tiles, a width of three bays, and a depth of two bays. The statues inside depict the Taoist “Three Pure Ones”: Laozi (the Supreme Old Lord)—the leader of Taoism—is in the center, with the Primordial Heavenly Worthy on his left and the Jade Emperor Heavenly Worthy on his right. The murals on the east and west walls depict the “Eighty-One Transformations of the Supreme Old Lord.” The rear hall is the Zhenwu Hall (Beiji Xuan Palace), also with a flush gable roof covered with gray tiles, a width of three bays, and a depth of two bays, featuring a five-rafter beam structure. The hall enshrines the “Zhenwu Emperor.” The east side hall of the front hall (Sanqing Hall) is the Ancestral Master Hall (Ancestor of All Crafts) dedicated to Lu Ban, while the west side hall is the God of Wealth Hall. Its murals depict themes of “White House, White Pair.” Both halls have a width of three bays, a depth of one bay, and a flush gable roof covered with gray tiles. The east side hall of the rear Zhenwu Hall is the Wenchang Hall, and the west side hall is the Kiln God Hall. Both side halls have flush gable roofs covered with gray tiles and house some relatively early-period murals.

The main hall of the temple preserves rare and exquisitely painted Taoist-themed murals, which serve as valuable materials for studying Taoist culture. The entire temple complex follows a rigorous and orderly layout along a single north-south central axis, presenting an elegant and classic ancient architectural style. It stands as a beautiful scenic attraction in the northern part of Nuquan Ancient Town and serves as a sacred site for Taoist teachings.

In May 2013, Shazipo Laojun Temple was designated as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units