Jiutian Shengmu Temple

Jiutian Shengmu Temple

Jiutian Shengmu Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Highlights: The temple houses over 20 steles commemorating renovations from the Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties, and the Republican era, most of which stand within the worship pavilion. Notably, it uniquely preserves architectural elements from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties all in one temple—an extremely rare sight among surviving ancient structures in China, making it truly precious. Introduction: Located on an earthen mound 10 kilometers west of Pingshun County in Donghe Village, Beishe Township, Jiutian Shengmu Temple was first built during the Sui Dynasty. The Hall of the Goddess Mother was reconstructed in the early Northern Song Dynasty and has undergone multiple renovations since. The temple faces south and consists of a single courtyard complex that is longer north-south but wider east-west. At the front is the mountain gate and theater stage, with the Offering Pavilion in the center and the Hall of the Goddess Mother at the back, flanked by side halls. The east and west courtyards house additional structures including the Hall of Li Jingwang, Three Officials Hall, King of Hell Hall, Ten Generals Hall, Guan Yu Hall, Hall of Descendants, and Dressing Tower. The halls are arranged in a well-spaced and harmonious layout, with varied roof styles. The temple is bounded by steep cliffs to the south, north, and west, with ravines crisscrossing the surroundings, while the east connects to an open courtyard. In front of the mountain gate and theater stage lies a long platform, beneath which are three arched stone caves facing south, accessible via 67 stone steps inclined at a 45-degree angle. The mountain gate arch is constructed of blue bricks, with a cantilevered eave and tubular tiles. The passageway through the gate leads from the central bay of the theater’s ground floor, with the side bays enclosed. The theater stage is three bays wide and four rafters deep, featuring a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. It was originally built during the Jianzhongjingguo era of the Northern Song Dynasty, characterized by square pillars, ornate brackets, and round beams. The Worship Pavilion sits between the Hall of the Goddess Mother and the theater stage. Built on a high platform with stone walls on three sides and stepped access, the pavilion has a hip-and-gable roof and exposes its structural components, retaining Yuan Dynasty architectural features. Its gray-tiled roof with animal ornaments is unique in the Shangdang region. The Hall of the Goddess Mother, also built on a platform, is nearly square in plan with a single-eave nine-ridge roof covered in glazed tiles and decorated with green-glazed edges. The east courtyard’s Dressing Tower, facing west, is a striking two-story hip-and-gable structure from the Ming Dynasty. Other halls are generally three-bay suspended gable-roof structures dating from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing periods. Admission/Open Hours: 10 RMB

Changzhi City, Shanxi

Beishe Township: Located on the western plateau of Pingshun County, Changzhi City, Beishe Township borders Qingyang Town to the east, Changzhi Suburban District to the west, Huguan to the south, and Lucheng to the north. Covering an area of 58 square kilometers, it has 25 administrative villages.

　Beishe Township is situated on the western plateau of Pingshun County, Changzhi City. It borders Qingyang Town to the east, Changzhi Suburban District to the west, Huguan to the south, and Lucheng to the north, covering 58 square kilometers with 25 villages, a population of 17,000, and 27,316 mu of arable land. Major local resources include iron ore and stone materials found mainly in villages such as Dongchan, Huanghuazhang, Daduo, Xiaoduo, and Zhangli. More detailed information about Beishe Township++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units