LinYi Kaihua Temple

LinYi Kaihua Temple

LinYi Kaihua Temple is a cultural heritage site protected by Shanxi Province.

LinYi Kaihua Temple

Kaihua Temple is located 17 kilometers northeast of Yuncheng. It was first built during the Tongguang era of the Later Tang Dynasty in the Five Dynasties period and was rebuilt during the Northern Song Dynasty. The Mahavira Hall is the main structure within the temple and also the most valuable building. The hall was originally constructed in the Song Dynasty, with both its depth and width consisting of three bays. The colorful paintings and murals inside the hall are very famous. The murals on the western wall of Kaihua Temple are the largest extant Song Dynasty murals in China.

Here, peaks are covered in lush greenery, mountains undulate, pines and cypresses thrive densely, roads wind around ridges, and springs reflect beside streams, truly creating the poetic ambiance of “an ancient temple hidden deep in the mountains.” The temple was established during the Tang Zhuangzong era of the Later Tang Dynasty in the Five Dynasties period and was originally named Qingliang Ruo (where “Ruo” is a Buddhist term). It was renamed Kaihua Temple in the Song Dynasty and is a renowned ancient temple in Shanxi. In the sixth year of the Xining era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1073), the Mahavira Hall was constructed, and it has undergone multiple renovations during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The temple follows a one-courtyard-in, two-courtyards-out layout that is rigorously and appropriately designed. At the front of the temple stands a two-story, pavilion-style mountain gate. The Mahavira Hall is centrally located within the courtyard, with eastern and western side halls standing opposite each other. At the back is the Preaching Hall, with wing rooms on either side. Under the eastern wing room, a spring trickles with a refreshing sound. The existing Mahavira Hall is a remnant structure from the Song Dynasty. The hall is majestic, with a simple and robust structure that clearly exhibits the architectural style of the Song Dynasty. The beams still preserve Song Dynasty painted patterns. The interior walls are fully covered with murals created in the third year of the Shaosheng era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1096), depicting the life story of the Buddha. The architecture is magnificent, the figures are lifelike, the costumes are brightly colored, the lines are smooth, and the overall aesthetic is richly artistic, making them of great research value and extremely high artistic worth. Stone stelae within the temple and three stone pagodas of eminent monks outside the temple are all well preserved.

Inside the temple is preserved a stele from the fourth year of the Daguan era of the Song Dynasty (1110), the "Zezhou Sheli Mountain Kaihua Temple Merit Stele," with its inscriptions composed by Cui Jing using characters from Wang Xizhi’s calligraphy. The most valuable aspect is the mural in the Mahavira Hall, covering an area of 88.2 square meters, completed in the third year of the Shaosheng era of the Song Dynasty (1096). The content depicts Buddhist scripture stories and was painted by artisan Guo Fa. The brushwork is exquisitely detailed, with individual hairs on beards clearly visible, and the decorative borders have been emulated by modern architects and experts. It provides precious material for studying various aspects of ancient history, religion, architecture, and painting. Relevant departments in Shanxi Province once commissioned painters to replicate these murals for exhibitions in Japan and other countries, earning widespread acclaim both domestically and internationally. Kaihua Temple is a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit and is listed in the "China Scenic Spots Dictionary."

Phone: 0359-4023082

Address: LinYi County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province