Guanyin Hall in Mengzhou

Guanyin Hall in Mengzhou

Guanyin Hall in Mengzhou is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

Guanyin Hall

Ming and Qing dynasties

Wutong Village, Mengzhou City, Henan Province

Guanyin Hall is also known as the Beamless Hall. The construction date of the Beamless Hall is unknown, but it was renovated in July of the 12th year of the Jiajing reign during the Ming Dynasty (1533 AD).

The beamless temple is built in a brick-and-stone imitation wood structure, with a single bay in both width and depth. Its upper part is covered with red and green glazed tiles, featuring a cruciform nine-ridged roof with four corner hips, and twelve floral patterns imitating wooden brackets along the eaves. There are nineteen relief carvings on the upper and lower eaves, all made of multicolored glazed tiles. The carvings depict folk tales, historical legends, such as the Laughing Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, the rhinoceros gazing at the moon, the Journey to the West, the meeting at the ancient city, and the tale of passing through five passes and slaying six generals. The themes are diverse, the symbolism profound, and the designs unique. The figures are vividly sculpted, lifelike, and of high research value.

Legend has it that during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, Mengzhou suffered from years of drought, leaving the land barren and the people starving. Emperor Shenzong, Zhu Yijun, specially dispatched the Right Censor-in-Chief He Tang to inspect the disaster. To reduce taxes and pacify the people, He Tang, noticing that there was an ancient temple in the area built without wooden beams, wrote a memorial to the emperor suggesting he come to see it. When the emperor arrived and saw the small beamless temple, he was astonished. He Tang quickly explained, “Mengzhou is poor and has no wood for beams.” The emperor replied, “No beam, no ‘grain’ (homophone for 梁 liáng and 粮 liáng) needed!” He Tang immediately kowtowed in gratitude, and thus the taxes for the people of Mengzhou were waived for several years. Later, a statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva was enshrined in the temple, and worshippers came to pray for good fortune. The temple was then named the Beamless Temple.

Further reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units in Henan Province