Temple of Guan Yu at Qiangxia

Temple of Guan Yu at Qiangxia

The Temple of Guan Yu at Qiangxia is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Temple of Guan Yu at Qiangxia

Era: Qing Dynasty

Address: Qiangxia Village, Peijie Town, Xia County, Yuncheng City

The Temple of Guan Yu at Qiangxia was first built in the 16th year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1677). The entire temple faces south and covers an area of 25,000 square meters. Along the central axis, the existing structures include the theater stage, viewing pavilion, offering pavilion, main hall, and bedroom hall. Two side halls are located on the west side of the main hall: the Guanyin Hall and the Ox-and-Horse King Shrine; one side hall is located on the east side: the Earth God Hall.

The beam ridge board of the theater stage bears the inscription: “Reconstructed in the 20th year of the Kangxi reign of the Great Qing (1681), during the Year of Xin You, by the Ten Societies’ Lantern and Wine Association. Recorded in reverence.” It has two levels: the lower level serves as a passageway, while the upper level functions as the theater stage. The stage is three bays wide and four rafters deep, with a six-rafter front-porch style structure and a flush gable roof. Under the eaves are column-top brackets and distributed brackets, designed as three-curved single downward angling. The tails of the distributed brackets on each side slant outward to support the vertical lotus columns under the lower purlins; the distributed brackets on the rear eaves lack slanted supports. The front eaves feature couplets: “Though a small place, it can represent the nation and the world; ordinary figures can become civil and martial deities and spirits”; “A single dream captures the autumn moon over the river; myriad dances bloom like jade trees and flowers.”

On October 7, 2019, the Temple of Guan Yu at Qiangxia was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Source: Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Qiangxia Village: Qiangxia Village is located along the central road of Xia County, in the northern part of Peijie Town, about 5 kilometers from the county seat. The village has 17 villager groups, 750 households, a population of 3,850, and 3,350 mu of arable land. There are 8 Party groups with 72 current Party members, and 8 cadres in the village committee. The village layout is square-shaped, with roads in a grid pattern. The main roads — “Three Streets, Two Roads, Twelve Lanes” — have now been largely paved, greened, illuminated, and landscaped. The dominant industries include agriculture, animal husbandry, and processing, all progressing in tandem. The agricultural sector mainly grows economic forests, wheat, corn, cotton, and other grain crops. Annual total income: among them, the total annual agricultural income... More detailed information about Qiangxia Village++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units