Fanjialing Five Dragons Temple

Fanjialing Five Dragons Temple

Fanjialing Five Dragons Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Changzhi City.

Since the dragon is regarded as the deity in charge of water, wherever there is water—be it rivers, lakes, seas, pools, ponds, or wells—there is a Dragon King presiding over the local water supply and harvest. As a result, Dragon King temples are found all across China, forming an important part of the nation’s dragon worship. By the Gan River in the northern gate of Xiangyuan stands a Five Dragons Temple. The Five Dragons refer to the Green Dragon, Red Dragon, Yellow Dragon, White Dragon, and Black Dragon. In the second year of Daguan during the reign of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty (1108), an imperial edict declared that all Five Dragons be granted the title of king: the Green Dragon as the Broad Benevolence King, the Red Dragon as the Auspicious Grace King, the Yellow Dragon as the Faith-Responsive King, the White Dragon as the Righteous Relief King, and the Black Dragon as the Spirit Grace King. The Five Dragons Temple enshrines these five Dragon Kings.

Fanjialing Five Dragons Temple is located in Fanjialing Village, Xiadian Town, Xiangyuan County. It faces south and has a single-courtyard layout, measuring 21.82 meters from east to west and 29.65 meters from north to south, covering an area of 646.96 square meters. The exact date of its establishment is unknown, but according to inscriptions in the temple, the side rooms were renovated in the 16th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1836). The existing main hall is a structure remaining from the Ming Dynasty, while the rest of the buildings date to the Qing Dynasty. Along the central axis from south to north are the mountain gate (a reverse-facing theater stage) and the main hall, with symmetrical wing rooms, side rooms, and attic rooms on the east and west sides. The main hall is built on a brick platform 1.05 meters high, featuring a three-bay width, six-rafter depth, single-eave gable-and-hip roof, and a seven-rafter front-porch style framework. The column-top brackets are of the one-dou-two-lift type, and the fittings have been modified. Inside the temple is a stele from the 16th year of the Daoguang reign (1836) recording the temple’s renovation, as well as a Qing Dynasty donation stele. In 2007, it was designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit by the People’s Government of Changzhi City.

Fanjialing Village: Overview of Fanjialing Village

I. Basic Information

(1) General Overview

1. Geographic Location

Fanjialing Village in Xiadian Town is located in the northeastern part of Xiadian Town, bordering Huocun to the east, Xiadian Town to the west, Andi to the south, and Xinzhuang to the north. National Highway 208 and the expressway run through Fanjialing Village.

2. Population Overview

The village has a total of 3 villager groups, 173 households, and an approximate population of 730. The average education level of residents aged 18–45 is junior high school or above.

3. Grassroots Organizational Structure

The two committees of Fanjialing Village… Detailed information about Fanjialing Village++