Yongding Puguang Temple

Yongding Puguang Temple

Yongding Puguang Temple is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Hunan Province.

Puguang Temple dates from the Ming to the Qing dynasties. Located in Yongding District, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province, this is an ancient architectural complex with a distinctive style in western Hunan.

According to the *Local Chronicles* of Dayong County: “In the eleventh year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1413), Commandant Yong Jian built it.” From the eleventh year of the Yongzheng era (1733) to the seventeenth year of the Guangxu era (1891) of the Qing Dynasty, it was renovated multiple times. The extant structures include the Main Gate, Secondary Gate, Mahavira Hall (Great Buddha’s Hall), Second Buddha’s Hall, Guanyin Hall, as well as the Gaozhen Temple and Jade Emperor Pavilion on the left side, covering a total area of 8,618 square meters.

Main Gate: Built in the 50th year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1875), it was renovated in the 25th year of the Republic of China (1936). It features a hip-and-gable roof style, is 15.6 meters wide and 7.8 meters deep, with the main entrance sporting a double-eave hip-and-gable roof covered with small blue tiles. The lintel is adorned with a gilded relief plaque inscribed “Puguang Chan Temple.” The Secondary Gate stands opposite the Main Gate and is of similar size.

Mahavira Hall (Great Buddha’s Hall): Renovated in the 24th year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1708), and repaired in various periods thereafter. It is five bays wide and three bays deep, 8.5 meters high, with a floor area of 318 square meters. The hall contains eight wooden golden columns and 24 eaves columns. Each roof truss uses three large beams and two embracing beams interlaced through the heavy and eaves columns, forming a stable and robust six-rafter herringbone frame. The roof ridge is decorated with dragons and phoenixes, with beast tails at both ends and a treasure top in the center. Four golden columns are carved with coiled dragons. The outer eaves feature 24 sets of bracket arms with double upward-facing ridges. The inner eaves have 112 bracket arms, which are relatively large and non-load-bearing. The bracket arms are arranged in two, three, or four tiers, all adorned with decorative patterns. The wooden caisson ceiling is painted with birds, beasts, and mythological scenes, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. The front of the hall is fitted with carved wooden lattice doors and varied openwork central panels. The lower panels are carved with diverse mythological designs, all painted. The original bell and drum towers on the east and west sides of the hall have been recently restored.

The Second Buddha’s Hall (Arhat Hall) and Guanyin Pavilion are followed by the Gaozhen Temple. This is one of the earlier and more significant ancient structures in Puguang Temple. It is 21.4 meters wide and 11.4 meters deep, with a total area of 224 square meters, featuring a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. The stone column bases vary in style — some are plain covered bowls, others are square-shaped, with varying degrees of craftsmanship refinement. Wooden spacers are placed atop the column bases. The upper sections of the wooden columns are entirely supported by large bracket arms bearing beams and lintels. Below are especially large intricately carved corner ridges. Judging from the specifications of the beams, lintels, bracket arms, and dougong blocks, the Gaozhen Temple is believed to be a structure from the late Yuan to early Ming period. There is also a Jade Emperor Pavilion.

In terms of overall layout and architectural structure, Puguang Temple reflects the characteristics and styles of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

On January 24, 1959, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit by the People’s Committee of Hunan Province, with the designation number 112.

Source: Overview of Cultural Relics in Hunan