Yu County's Zhenwu Temple

Yu County's Zhenwu Temple

Yu County's Zhenwu Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Zhenwu Temple is located in the northwest corner of Yu County, Hebei Province.

Through analysis of the temple’s architectural structure and comparisons with other buildings of verified design, combined with inscriptions on stelae, it is concluded that Zhenwu Temple was constructed during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty. The front hip-and-gable lean-to porch of the main hall was reconstructed and added during the Kangxi and Yongzheng eras of the Qing Dynasty. The four coiled-column pillars of the bell tower are relics from the Yuan Dynasty, repurposed during the Ming Dynasty.

The temple faces south and is situated on a rammed earth and brick platform base about 3 meters high. The halls and meditation rooms are interconnected, forming an enclosed independent courtyard covering an area of 2,944 square meters. The main hall is aligned along a central north-south axis, with two side halls on the east and west respectively. The courtyard is enclosed by walls on all sides, with a bell tower built in the eastern part and a drum tower in the western part.

The front hall serves as a through-passage hall. It features a single-eave suspended hip-and-gable lean-to connected roof style, three bays in width and depth. The suspended hip roof follows a standard five-rafter central column design, with the five-rafter beams painted with "golden dragons and peonies" at their centers. The front lean-to porch has four rafters, with a coiled roof supported by purlins, and all beams are painted. The main hall, situated at the northern end of the courtyard, is the North Pole Hall. It has a single-eave hip roof covered with green glazed tiles and ornamental glazed tile ridges, along with a front porch. In front of the porch is a spacious raised terrace about 1.30 meters higher than the courtyard floor, approached by a seven-step staircase, with smaller steps on the east and west sides. The hall is three bays wide and five bays deep, with a seven-rafter beam structure. The distribution of bracket sets includes one set at the central bay and one between each frame. Both inner and outer eaves feature single-curved five-step bracket sets. On the gable sides, the bracket sets include inward-extending metal tension rods that rest beneath the step-beam. The bracket distribution is as follows: four sets at the corner brackets, six at the column-top brackets, two per bay along the inner bays, and one per bay along the eaves. The inner bracket panels are painted with ink-wash images of “plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums.” The porch has a hip-and-gable lean-to roof covered with green glazed tiles, three bays wide and two bays deep, with six rafters and angled beams at the corners. Both inner and outer eaves have double-curved five-step gilded bracket sets. The lean-to walls on the east and west sides are painted with Taoist-themed murals featuring figures about 1.50 meters tall—seven star lords on each side holding ceremonial tablets, with varied expressions. The elders appear wise with flowing beards, while the youths look handsome and carefree, all exuding an immortal aura. They seem to be slowly approaching the main deity, the Northern Emperor. In front of the seven star lords are three figures each—on the east wall, golden boys; on the west, jade maidens holding ceremonial banners, looking back to lead an elder. Male figures on the east and female on the west hold tablets and worship the Zhenwu Emperor facing north, followed by attendants—male youths on the east and females on the west—each holding trays. The boy’s tray holds a red sun with a rooster standing on it, while the girl’s tray holds a yellow moon with a rabbit lying on it. The paintings are delicately detailed and lifelike, ranking among the finest works.

To the east below the terrace of the main hall stands a bell tower, featuring a single-eave four-pillar hip roof, with a square floor plan. The tops of the four eave pillars are all coiled-column style. Above the pillars are double-curved seven-step bracket sets. Each of the east and west side halls is three bays wide, with a single-eave suspended hip roof covered with clay tiles and a standard five-rafter beam. The horizontal beams feature a scissor-brace design, with the hall being three bays wide and two bays deep.

The four enclosing walls of the temple courtyard are all made of brick, with noticeable tapering. The walls are built upon stone and brick platform bases that have been added over the years. The corner structures at the four intersections of the courtyard are relatively complex, featuring corner beams and columns. Remnants of murals can also be found inside the southern corner wing rooms.

The bell tower is positioned on both sides of the central courtyard—a layout rarely seen among ancient buildings. Moreover, its shape resembles that of ancient paintings. The temple’s surrounding architecture encloses the space in a closed corner structure with a central courtyard, demonstrating remarkable craftsmanship and an ancient aesthetic. Such examples are extremely rare today and can only be found in ancient paintings from the Song and Yuan periods.

In 2006, Zhenwu Temple, as an ancient Ming Dynasty structure, was included in the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.

Beifangcheng Village: Beifangcheng Village is located in Yongquanzhuang Township in the northwestern part of Yu County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. Yu County lies within a small basin, and the village is situated on the northern hilly area of this basin. About 1 kilometer north of the village is the location of the Kaolian Group's Danhou Coal Mine. The village currently has about 1,400 mu of arable land, with 275 households and a total population of 847. The per capita net income is 6,500 yuan. Among them, 56 households receive rural subsistence allowances. The main sources of income for farmers are crop farming and labor export, with major crops including corn, potatoes, and millet. Labor exports mainly consist of about 100 people working as masons, plasterers, and miners, with miners accounting for... Detailed information on Beifangcheng Village++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Third Batch of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units