Chongtai Temple in Yu County

Chongtai Temple in Yu County

Chongtai Temple in Yu County is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Chongtai Temple is located in Yongquanzhuang Township, Yu County. It is the largest, oldest, and best-preserved ancient temple complex in Zhangjiakou City, and has been designated as a national key cultural relic. In 1998, the Zhangjiakou Municipal Government approved the reopening of the temple.

Chongtai Temple

Chongtai Temple

Chongtai Temple was built during the Liao Dynasty. The temple covers an area of 6,680 square meters and has 120 halls and rooms. Its structure is divided into three sections: the central main buildings, and a small courtyard on each of the east and west sides. The main buildings are arranged along a central north-south axis, with symmetrical layouts on the east and west. From south to north, they are the theater stage, mountain gate, Heavenly King Hall, Thousand Buddha Hall, Guanyin Hall, Water-Land Hall, Sakyamuni Hall, and Three Teachings Tower. What sets Chongtai Temple apart from other temples is the Three Teachings Tower, where the central wall features a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, with Confucius on the left and Laozi on the right. Here, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism coexist and converge, collectively forming the spiritual home and inner world of the Chinese people.

The well-preserved state of Chongtai Temple is due to the fact that during the Cultural Revolution, the China Geological Museum relocated its geological rock data to the temple for safekeeping and assigned personnel to protect and guard it, thus sparing it from destruction.

Chongtai Temple is located in the river valley area in the northwest of Yu County, situated on a loess high hill between Yanjiazhai, Cuijiazhai, and Xianzhou villages. Surrounded by cliffs, the temple is approached by a winding path up the hill. From a distance, towers, pavilions, halls, platforms, pagodas, and quarters, along with pine and apricot trees interspersed among high walls and eaves, present a grand, majestic, and solemn sight.

Chongtai Temple is said to have been built during the Song and Liao periods. In the ninth year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1496), the monk Zhenhui renovated it and renamed it “Sansheng Temple.” In the ninth year of the Jiajing reign (1530), it was restored by Prince Lucheng of Shanxi and given the name “Chongtai Temple.” During the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, it was briefly renamed “Luohan Temple.” The temple complex covers an area of 13,100 square meters, with the entire structure facing south. It consists of three main courtyards (front, middle, and rear), east and west side courtyards, and a stupa forest. Along the central axis are arranged the theater stage, mountain gate, Maitreya Hall, Thousand Buddha Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, Sakyamuni Hall, Three Teachings Tower, and rear meditation rooms. Symmetrically arranged along the sides of the axis are the bell and drum towers, Erlang Temple, Guan Yu Temple, Luohan Hall, Yama Hall, scripture depository, stele corridor, and side halls. The temple is divided into three courtyards by two east-west walls and brick gate towers. Architectural styles include flush gable roofs, hanging gable roofs, hip-and-gable roofs, towers, and pavilions. The east and west side courtyards are located at the northeast and northwest corners of the temple, serving as living quarters for monks and Taoist priests. Most of the temple buildings are not large in scale, mostly featuring single-eave flush gable roofs with clay tiles, and the main structures use one-dou-two-lift bracket sets on their eaves.

In May 2013, Chongtai Temple in Yu County was listed as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

The Sakyamuni Hall is an important structure in Chongtai Temple. It features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with clay tiles and a front-projecting porch, giving it a grand and solemn appearance. Inside the hall are well-preserved murals from the Qing Dynasty, with a painting style similar to that of the Pilu Temple murals in Shijiazhuang.

Behind the Sakyamuni Hall is the tallest building in Chongtai Temple—the Three Teachings Tower. It is built on a brick foundation that is 7 meters high and 6.8 meters long and wide. Beneath the 22-step platform, a tunnel approximately one person in height is cleverly concealed, with monk quarters on the east and west sides of the steps, and a brick cross-shaped parapet wall on the platform. The Three Teachings Tower has a single-eave flush gable roof with clay tiles. The central mural inside depicts portraits of the founders of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, rendered in bright colors and clear imagery. Climbing to the top offers a refreshing breeze and a sweeping view, with the surrounding mountain and river scenery fully visible.

Chongtai Temple is a temple that harmonizes the three teachings—Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. While primarily Buddhist, it also incorporates elements of Taoist and Confucian culture, reflecting the trend in traditional Chinese culture where the three major streams intermingle, complement, and ultimately unite. In terms of architectural scale, it gives the impression of a vast complex with deep courtyards, layered halls, and scattered pavilions, characterized by compact structures and a grand layout. In architectural artistry, it pursues simplicity without crudeness and refinement without vulgarity. The design of the gate towers is particularly ingenious, whether in prominent locations or hidden corners, all handled skillfully and elegantly.

The brickwork on the flush gable roofs is exquisitely crafted, especially the brick carvings on the risers and gable eaves, which exhibit both regional characteristics and a high level of artistic quality, representing the exceptional craftsmanship of local artisans in tile work and the mature ingenuity of the designers. Additionally, the location of Chongtai Temple is unique. Nestled quietly on a high hill, far from villages and residences, and with inconvenient transportation, it serves as a rare secluded haven. This isolated location and environment have also been key reasons why the temple has remained intact and suffered little human damage over the years.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units