Yuanling Longxing Temple

Yuanling Longxing Temple

Yuanling Longxing Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Longxing Temple is located at the southern foot of Huxi Mountain, west of Yuanling County in central China's Hunan Province. It is a Buddhist temple that retains architectural styles from the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD) to the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911 AD), and is also the oldest surviving wooden structure complex in Hunan Province.

The temple was first built in the second year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty (628 AD) and has undergone multiple renovations throughout successive dynasties. Covering an area of approximately 20,000 square meters, the temple boasts a majestic presence. It currently preserves over 10 structures, including the Mountain Gate, the Mahavira Hall, and the Guanyin Pavilion. The Mahavira Hall is the main structure of the temple, featuring a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof. The central bay of the hall is spacious and houses eight nanmu (Phoebe nanmu) inner columns, each with a diameter of over 80 centimeters. Between the column bases and the foundation stones are embedded drum-shaped wooden branches, while the stone bases are shaped like inverted lotuses. A plaque inscribed with the words "Front of the Buddha’s Realm" (眼前佛国), written by Dong Qichang, a calligrapher from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 AD), hangs in front of the hall. In addition, the temple also preserves relics left by notable figures from various dynasties.

Longxing Temple provides valuable physical material for the study of ancient Chinese architecture, culture, and more. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

On November 20, 1996, the State Council designated it as part of the fourth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units, with the designation number 108-30.

Further Reading:

· Tenth Batch of Hunan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units