Hongji Temple

Hongji Temple

Hongji Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Hongji Temple

Hongji Temple (Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units)

Era: Jin to Qing Dynasties

Address: Donglianghou Village, Dongliang Township, Wuxiang County

The founding date is unknown. It was repaired repeatedly during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The existing main structure, the Main Hall, features architectural styles from the Jin Dynasty. The rest were rebuilt during the Ming and Qing periods.

The temple faces south and has a two-courtyard layout, covering an area of 1,036 square meters. Major structures in the main courtyard include the theater stage, bell and drum towers, South Hall, Main Hall, and East and West Side Halls; the side courtyard mainly contains the Guan Yu Hall. Outside the gable wall of the temple stands a Thousand Buddha Pagoda.

The South Hall is three bays wide and two bays deep, with a single-eave hanging hip roof. The corridors on the east and west sides each have seven bays and are built in the flush-gable style. The Main Hall is the principal hall of the temple, five bays wide and three bays deep, with a single-eave hanging hip roof. The central bay features a plank door, while the side bays have lattice windows. Under the eaves, the bracket sets on the columns are arranged in an overlapping style, with a protruding cornice. The inner walls are painted with murals depicting Buddhist themes. The eastern and western walls inside the hall feature murals illustrating the "Six Paths of Reincarnation," rendered in strong colors and fine details.

There are ninety-two murals preserved in the Main Hall and the South Hall, depicting figures, landscapes, and architectural scenery, covering a total area of about 120 square meters, all painted during the Qing Dynasty. The Thousand Buddha Pagoda is square in plan, approximately 2 meters high, with each side measuring 0.8 meters. Each face of the pagoda is carved with over a thousand seated Buddha statues.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units