Yongji Guanwang Temple

Yongji Guanwang Temple

Yongji Guanwang Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Yongji Guanwang Temple

Yongji Guanwang Temple (Fourth Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: Ming Dynasty

Address: No. 61, Hongqi West Street, Yanhu District

Yongji Guanwang Temple is located at No. 61, Hongqi West Street, Zhongcheng Subdistrict, Yanhu District, Yuncheng City. It faces west with an eastward orientation, covering an area of 2,100 square meters. Originally built during the Yuan Dynasty, only the Mountain Gate, Offering Hall, and Main Hall along the central axis remain today, which are remnants from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Along the central axis to the west of Yongji Guanwang Temple is the Mountain Gate, which stands on a 1.2-meter-high platform with an area of 70 square meters. The structure has three bays in width and two rafters in depth, with a single-eave hanging gable roof. Eight carved stone pillars with dragons are installed under the front and rear eaves, and a stone inscription from the fourth year of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty (1509) can be found on the front eave’s central pillar. The front eave features bracket sets of five tiers with single rising and single angling, and the side walls are solid. The Offering Hall covers an area of 142 square meters, also with three bays in width and two rafters in depth, a single-eave roll-canopy hard gable roof, and no walls under the front and rear eaves. Stone railings are installed along the edge of the platform, with steps located in the central bay. The Main Hall is three bays wide and three bays deep, featuring a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with glazed tiles. The front eave has bracket sets of five tiers with single rising and single angling. The central bay of the front eave has a protruding platform, while the side bays have recessed platforms. There is an inscription from the 25th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1597) indicating renovation work.

Yongji Guanwang Temple preserves the layout and architecture dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, with traceable restoration history. Its architectural decoration is diverse, demonstrating high historical and artistic value.

In May 2013, Yongji Guanwang Temple was designated as part of the Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units