Yanshi Jiulong Temple

Yanshi Jiulong Temple

Yanshi Jiulong Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Jiulong Temple is located about 500 meters south of Shijiazhuang Village, Shanhua Township, on the eastern side of the county town. It was built during the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty by local people to commemorate Huang Shoucai, a renowned water management expert.

The temple faces south and covers an area of 3,400 square meters. The surviving structures, from south to north, include the bell and drum towers, side halls, main hall, rear hall, and wing rooms. According to local residents, the original Jiulong Temple also had a mountain gate and a theater stage. In front of the main hall stood tall flagpoles, and the interior housed miscellaneous rooms such as a vegetarian hall, guest hall, and sleeping quarters, all of which have unfortunately been lost.

The bell tower and drum tower stand respectively at the southeast and southwest corners of the temple complex. Both are square-shaped, two-story structures made of brick and wood, with hip-and-gable roofs, flying eaves, blue tiles, six ridges, and six ornamental animal figures. The interior features four beams and three purlins. The lower part of the bell tower’s lintel is inscribed with the words “Resounding Bell Tower,” while the drum tower bears the plaque “Night-Sounding Drum Tower.” The bell tower was first constructed in May 1892, during the 18th year of the Guangxu reign.

Beyond the bell and drum towers lie the symmetrical east and west side halls. These halls feature flush gable walls and corbel steps, with five ridges and six ornamental animal figures, all covered with blue tiles. The front sections of the halls are supported by four square stone pillars, each engraved with couplets. Inside, each side hall has four wooden pillars, four main beams, four secondary beams, and twenty-four purlins, all adorned with colored paintings. The east side hall was built in September 1872, during the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign, while the west side hall was constructed in March 1873, during the 12th year of the Tongzhi reign.

The main hall was established in 1811, during the 16th year of the Jiaqing reign. It is situated on the central platform of the temple courtyard, measuring three bays in width and depth, forming a near-square layout. The structure is made of brick and wood, with a hip-and-gable roof, flying eaves, blue tiles, nine ridges, and six ornamental animal figures. The patterns are intricate, and the surrounding bracket sets interlock intricately. Four corner iron ornaments tinkle softly. Inside, there are four pillars and six beams, all painted, with hanging peach motifs decorated on the diagonal beams at the corners. The beam-pillar joints feature bracket arms. The central ridge beam bears the inscription “Constructed on the third day of the second month in the 16th year of the Great Qing Jiaqing reign.”

In front of the main hall lies a rolled shed, also constructed of brick and wood, with its upper section covered by blue tiles.

The rear hall was built in 1817, during the 22nd year of the Jiaqing reign. It is made of brick and wood, with flush gable walls, corbel steps, five ridges, six ornamental animal figures, and a blue tile roof. The interior includes 16 through pillars, four main beams, four secondary beams, eight small crossbeams, and 21 purlins, all painted with black patterns. On the east and west sides of the rear hall are two wing rooms, slightly lower than the main rear hall, also featuring flush gable walls, corbel steps, five ridges, six ornamental animal figures.

Carvings and paintings depicting the stories of Huang Shoucai’s water control efforts can be seen throughout the temple.

In Shijiazhuang, Shanhua Township, after crossing a railway track and descending along a rural path, you will see Jiulong Temple standing tall in the fields. The temple has a history of nearly 400 years. Its architectural scale is quite large, with majestic halls and pavilions. In 2006, it was approved as a Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the state.

On October 7, 2019, Yanshi Jiulong Temple was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units