Agang Temple Site

Agang Temple Site

The Agang Temple Site is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Agang Temple Site is located in Gangsi Village, Macun Township, about 20 kilometers north of Wuyang County, Henan Province. It is a Neolithic site.

The Agang Temple Site covers a total area of 210,000 square meters. The site contains cultural relics and remains from various cultures including the Yangshao, Dawenkou, Liangzhu, and Peiligang periods. Artifacts unearthed include stone axes, stone sickles, stone shovels, bone awls, pottery spinning wheels, pottery paddles, net sinkers, pottery tripods, pottery beans, pottery jars, pottery goblets, pottery pots, as well as rice grains and animal bones.

In 1963, it was designated as a Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the People's Government of Henan Province, and in 2013, it was listed as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.

Cultural Relics Remains

Pits, house foundations, and red-burnt earthen floors can be seen on the surface and in exposed strata. A large number of specimens collected from the exposed strata include stone axes, stone sickles, stone shovels, bone awls, pottery spinning wheels, pottery paddles, net sinkers, pottery tripods, pottery beans, pottery jars, pottery goblets, pottery pots, as well as carbonized rice grains and numerous deer antlers and animal bones. The unearthed pottery includes red pottery, painted pottery, gray pottery, and shiny black eggshell pottery. Among the Yangshao culture relics are clay red pottery and painted pottery adorned with patterns of nets, bands, checkered lines, and celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, and stars, painted in black, white, and brownish-red. Dawenkou culture relics include red pottery, tall-stemmed hollow black pottery cups, red pottery bowls, and bean lids. Longshan culture relics feature gray pottery and eggshell black pottery, with vessel shapes such as pots, plates, and goblets, decorated with cord marks, appliqué patterns, and comb-stamped patterns. Judging by the types and characteristics of the artifacts, the cultural layers are rich in content, encompassing elements from many cultures such as Peiligang, Yangshao, Dawenkou, Qujialing, Longshan, and Erlitou. This site integrates cultural features from both the Jianghan and Huang-Huai River basins, and is an ancient cultural relic from the Neolithic period.

Site Protection

In 1963, it was designated as a Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the Provincial People's Government, and in 2013, it was listed as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.

The State Council announced the list of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units, among which the Agang Temple Site in Wuyang, Luohe City, was included. This seventh batch is categorized into six types: ancient sites, ancient tombs, ancient architecture, grotto temples and stone carvings, important modern historical sites and representative buildings, and others.

Gangsi Village: Gangsi Village is located in the northern part of Macun Township, with terrain sloping from south to north and gently from west to east. It has a temperate monsoon continental climate, featuring distinct seasons, abundant sunshine, ample rainfall, and a mild climate. The annual average temperature is 14.6°C, average annual precipitation is 836.6 mm, average annual sunshine is 2,198 hours, and the frost-free period is about 220 days. The village has a total of 255 households and a population of 1,070. There are several villager groups, and the cultivated land area is 1,800 mu. The village primarily grows wheat and corn. The village committee consists of five members. Currently, the village has a total of registered poverty-stricken households... Detailed information about Gangsi Village++

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units