Dongfeng Wanshou Palace

Dongfeng Wanshou Palace

Dongfeng Wanshou Palace is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Shanxi Province.

Wanshou Palace

Wanshou Palace (Fourth Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: Yuan and Ming

Address: Shangdongfeng Village, Yuancun Township, Gaoping City

Dongfeng Wanshou Palace, also known as Shenggu Temple, is located north of Shangdongfeng Village, Yuancun Township, Gaoping City. According to inscriptions in the temple, it was originally built in the 21st year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1284), and has been repaired during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It faces south and is a two-courtyard complex, covering an area of approximately 1,285 square meters.

Along the central axis of Wanshou Palace, from south to north, are the Mountain Gate, Sanjiao Hall, Reversed-Seat Theater Stage, Yuyu Stone Pavilion, and Shenggu Hall. On both sides are the existing East Side Hall (East Cloud Pavilion), West Side Hall (West Cloud Pavilion), West Wing Room, East and West Ear Rooms, and East and West Corner Halls. The Sanjiao Hall and Shenggu Hall are structures from the Yuan Dynasty, while the others were built during the Qing Dynasty. The Mountain Gate is a four-pillar, three-bay, three-story archway with non-protruding columns; the main bay features a single eave and a gable-and-hip roof. The Sanjiao Hall has a square layout, single-eave gable-and-hip roofs, and brackets extending outwards. The Shenggu Hall has a similar design, with a single-eave gable-and-hip roof and overhanging eaves. The bracket sets are of the late Yuan to early Ming style. The front eaves columns are round, while the side and rear columns are octagonal. The interior roof structure is of the five-rafter, nine-purlin type, with a central caisson ceiling. The front porch columns are round, and the side and rear ones are octagonal. The side halls are all single-eave gable-and-hip structures. The East and West Side Halls were originally part of the side halls but were later converted into separate worship spaces. The West Wing Room served as the side hall for the west side, and the East and West Ear Rooms and Corner Halls were added during the Qing Dynasty. Among the extant steles, there are four from the Yuan Dynasty, three from the Ming Dynasty, and seven from the Qing Dynasty.

Dongfeng Wanshou Palace holds significant value for the study of ancient architecture from the Song and Yuan periods.

In May 2013, Dongfeng Wanshou Palace was announced as part of the Seventh Batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites.

Yuancun Township: A township under the jurisdiction of Gaoping City. Established as Yuancun Commune in 1961 and reorganized as a township in 1984. Located in the western part of the city, it covers an area of 68.9 square kilometers with a population of 19,000. The Qin-Gao Highway passes through the township. It administers 26 village committees: Yuancun, Lang’erzhang, Chenzhuang, Changzhuang, Muzhuang, Mugou, Lugou, Huangwangtou, Dapogou, Beishan, Qianhe, Heili, Qincheng, Fengcun, Xiadongfeng, Yaozetou, Shuinan, Xiping, Shangdongfeng, Huangwangzhai, Chenshan, Lianghu, Zhangzhuang, Jiaohe, Shanhebei, and Ligou. The main industries are coal mining, smelting, and transportation. Key agricultural products include wheat, corn, sorghum, millet... More details about Yuancun Township++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Shanxi Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Protected Sites

· Seventh Batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites