Wannian Temple of the God of Agriculture

Wannian Temple of the God of Agriculture

Wannian Temple of the God of Agriculture is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Wannian Temple of the God of Agriculture

Wannian Temple of the God of Agriculture (Fifth Batch of National Heritage Protection Sites)

Era: Jin Dynasty

Location: Approximately 7.5 kilometers northwest of Wanrong County at the northern foot of Jiwang Mountain, in the northeastern corner of Tai'zhao Village

Legend has it that in ancient times, Houji first taught people how to farm here, hence the mountain was named Jishen Mountain (God of Agriculture Mountain), commonly known as Jiwang Mountain. The temple was built to commemorate Houji. Its founding date is unknown, and only the main hall along the central axis and the stage remain today.

The main hall is the principal structure of the Jiwang Temple, built during the Jin and Yuan Dynasties. It faces south and is situated on a north–south axis. The hall spans five bays in width and six rafters in depth, covering a construction area of 252 square meters. It features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof covered with tubular and flat tiles, with the ridge ornament and animal ornaments still intact. Inside the hall, a row of central pillars extends all the way down to below the horizontal beams. The main beams are divided into front and rear sections, interlocking with each other, without any continuous long beams. The bracket sets are referred to as "forked arms." The upper eaves columns on both sides feature unique bracketing designs. The temple provides important material evidence for the study of Jin Dynasty architecture and local wooden structural systems. Further reading:

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units