Jingying Temple

Jingying Temple

Jingying Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

Jingying Temple: The year of its founding is unknown, but it was rebuilt during the Tang Dynasty and expanded during subsequent dynasties including the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing. The temple was built to enshrine the Goddess of the Void, Wei Huacun.

Jingying Temple is situated on the eastern terrace of the Xianshen River Valley, with the terrain sloping from north to south. It lies against the foothills of Zijin Mountain to the east, faces the Xianshen River to the west, overlooks the “Bayi Reservoir” at the southern mountain pass, and has a view of the Immortal’s Palm of Mujian Mountain to the rear. The temple faces south with its back to the north, featuring a rectangular floor plan, and its architecture is largely symmetrically arranged, with walls originally surrounding the perimeter. The temple is 38 meters wide and 288 meters deep. About 30 meters in front of the temple lies the “Spirit Tablet Arch,” where the stone foundations and pole-clamping stones still remain. The foundations feature intricately carved rectangular Sumeru pedestals, while the pole-clamping stones are adorned with coiled dragons and drums, demonstrating exquisite craftsmanship. The main gate, named “Duanmen” (端门), is of the hallway type. Passing through Duanmen into the temple, there is a stone-paved central pathway. Along this nearly 100-meter-long pathway, there were originally three gates, of which only the foundations remain; from south to north, they are Chaoyang Gate, Yimen (Ceremonial Gate), and Zhengyang Gate. On both sides of the pathway are side rooms that enshrine various deities and immortals. Beyond Zhengyang Gate are the East and West Nine-Bay Pavilions. Around 30 meters to the north lie the Hall of the Goddess of the Void and the front canopy. The East Nine-Bay Pavilion enshrines the heroes who assisted in carrying the ceremonial palanquin, while the two-story West Nine-Bay Pavilion is dedicated to the Twelve Golden Dragon Mothers.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Henan Province