Tangdi Temple in Pingshang

Tangdi Temple in Pingshang

Tangdi Temple in Pingshang is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Period: Ming to Qing

Address: Zezhou County, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province

Tangdi Temple in Pingshang is located east of Pingshang Village, Zhoucun Town, Zezhou County. The exact time of its initial construction is unknown. It faces south and currently consists of a single-courtyard layout. According to an inscription under the beam inside the main hall, renovations were carried out in the 14th year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1501). The main hall and incense pavilion are structures from the Ming Dynasty.

The temple complex extends from south to north, successively featuring the incense pavilion, the Black Tiger Hall, and the main hall. On both sides are the mountain gate, bell and drum towers, side rooms, and wing halls. The main hall is five bays wide and six rafters deep, with a single-eave hanging gable roof, covered with tubular and flat tiles, and adorned with glazed ridge ornaments. In front of the hall is a low platform. The columns of the hall’s eaves use large through-beams, with octagonal chamfered bluestone pillars on the front eave, tapering along their length. The front eave column capitals feature bracket sets, intricately layered, with a pronounced outward overhang. The front eave brackets have a higher layer, while the rear eave uses a lower set with a more modest projection. The bracket arms are slender and delicate. The upper eave purlins are supported by protruding brackets. On the lower eave, there are decorative cloud and dragon motifs. The central ridge features a dragon head finial, while the hip rafters end in dragon tails, creating a vivid interplay. Beneath the central ridge lies an inscription plaque from the 14th year of the Hongzhi reign (1501) recording the renovation. The incense pavilion is built atop a stone platform, with a square floor plan. It is one bay wide and one bay deep, featuring a single-eave hip-and-gable roof, covered with tubular and flat tiles. The four corners are fitted with octagonal chamfered bluestone pillars, showing distinct setback and tapering, supported by inverted-bowl column bases. The eave brackets beneath are of the outrigger style, elegantly layered.

Both the main hall and the incense pavilion of Tangdi Temple in Pingshang exhibit architectural styles from the Yuan Dynasty, and hold significant historical value.

In May 2013, Tangdi Temple in Pingshang was designated as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units