RenSheng Hongji Temple

RenSheng Hongji Temple

RenSheng Hongji Temple is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Shanxi Province.

RenSheng Hongji Temple (Fifth Batch Provincial Protected Site)

Era: Jin and Ming Dynasties

Address: RenSheng Village, Guo Town, Qinxian County, Changzhi City

The exact founding date of RenSheng Hongji Temple is unknown. According to inscriptions preserved in the temple, it was renovated during the Jin Dynasty. The temple faces south and consists of a two-courtyard complex. Originally quite large, it now retains the front hall, offering pavilion, rear hall, and two stone stelae.

The rear hall is situated behind the offering pavilion. It has three bays in width and six rafters in depth, with a flush-gable roof. The bracket sets on the columns feature interlocking arms and upward-curving arms. The ceiling features a coffered design. The central bay is wider than the side ones. The roof is supported by flying rafters, and the hall's spatial composition features a strong sense of hierarchy and symmetry. The rear hall and the front hall both use timber that has been processed and finished through traditional methods, exhibiting structural elements and craftsmanship characteristic of early-period architecture.

There are two stone stelae in the temple documenting renovations carried out during the Jin and Qing Dynasties. Among them, the stele from the second year of the Zhenyou era of the Jin Dynasty (1214), commemorating the temple’s imperial designation and renovation, is particularly precious. Made of bluestone, the stele stands 2.7 meters tall in total, resting on a tortoise-shaped base. Its body is smooth as a mirror, with a semi-circular top bearing a relief of two dragons playing with a pearl in an exquisitely carved scene. The inscription details the imperial bestowal of the title and the specifics of the temple’s renovation, making it the finest among Qinzhou’s stone stelae and earning it the title of the “Four Wonders Stele.”

Source: Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

RenSheng Village: General Overview

RenSheng Village is located at the foot of the Funiu Mountains, 12 kilometers from the county seat and 3 kilometers from the government of Guo Town. It boasts a rich cultural heritage. The village currently has 2,242.64 mu of arable land, with a total land area of about 5,000 mu.

The village has 358 households and a population of 950, including 560 laborers. It is divided into 4 villager groups. There are 48 Party members, including 8 women. There are 7 households under the Five Guarantees Program, accounting for 6.8% of the population, and 75 low-income households comprising 109 people, accounting for 11.4% of the population.

RenSheng Party…… More detailed information about RenSheng Village++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units