Da Yun Chan Temple in Qin County

Da Yun Chan Temple in Qin County

Da Yun Chan Temple in Qin County is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Da Yun Chan Temple

Located in Guocun Village, Guozhen Town, about 13 kilometers west of Qin County, the temple is surrounded by residential houses and shaded by trees. According to inscriptions and the Chronicles of Qin Prefecture, it was first built during the Taihe period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (477–499), reconstructed during the Northern Song Dynasty, and underwent major repairs in the 12th year of the Dading reign of the Jin Dynasty (1180), when it was officially named “Da Yun Chan Temple” after acquiring an unused temple title. It was formally sanctioned in the first year of the Chongqing reign of the Jin Dynasty (1212). The temple was renovated multiple times during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

The temple faces south and has two courtyards. Along the central axis are, in sequence, the mountain gate, front hall, rear hall, with side halls, wing rooms, and corridors on both sides. Currently, only the main structures such as the front and rear halls remain. The front hall, also called the middle hall, is three bays wide and two bays deep, with a four-rafter roof and a single-eave gable and hip roof. Its beams are simple, bracket sets are delicate, latticed windows are diamond-shaped, and the lintels and spandrels are richly carved—features characteristic of the Qing Dynasty renovations. The rear hall is the main surviving structure in the temple complex. It is three bays wide and deep, built on a high platform, and square in plan. The hall has a six-rafter roof and a single-eave gable and hip roof. The column bases are stone, carved with clearly defined, finely cut inverted lotus petals. The side angles of the eave columns rise noticeably, and the capital curves of the four interior golden columns are gently tapered. The bracket sets atop the columns are five-purlin, single-jump, single-curved and downward-projecting, with double brackets and heart-matched construction. The beams and bracket sets are built with thick, solid materials using simple and unadorned woodworking techniques. Inside and outside the protective walls, moisture-proof panels 2.5 cm thick are laid—an uncommon feature. The brickwork beneath the plastered walls shows extremely fine joints, barely visible.

The ceiling in the central bay of the hall is an addition from the Ming or Qing renovations. On the tops of the east and west walls, over 40 square meters of murals remain, featuring exquisite patterns and elegant compositions, though now largely obscured by recent white plastering. The roof pitch is gentle, the eaves are deep, and the overhangs curve slightly upward, giving a soft and graceful aesthetic. The glazed ridge ornaments—including mythical beast heads, swallowing beasts, ridge pendants, and vertical beasts—are richly colored and intricately designed. The gable decorations, suspended fish motifs, and decorative grass elements are appropriately placed. In front of the hall stand two steles: one documenting the renovation and another recording the Jin Dynasty imperial decree to bestow the temple's name, detailing the reconstruction in the first year of Chongqing and the official naming. Da Yun Chan Temple in Qin County is listed as part of the fifth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units. Additionally, the village contains many ancient residences of diverse styles and exquisite designs, which are worth appreciating.

Qinghe Temple is located within a school east of Da Yun Chan Temple. Established during the Yuandade era, it is protected together with Da Yun Chan Temple. The front hall was destroyed in a fire last year, but large Taoist murals with smooth lines, lifelike figures, and gold-laced powder techniques—comparable to those in Yongle Palace and Qinglong Temple—can still be seen amid the ruins. Sadly, exposure to sun and rain means they may not last much longer. The rear hall is five bays wide and six rafters deep, with a single-eave gable and hip roof. The front eave bracket sets are adorned with carvings of auspicious animals. The interior also features large-scale well-preserved murals.

Contact number: 0356-2057555

Address: Guocun Village, Guozhen Town, about 13 kilometers west of Qin County

Transportation: Take a long-distance bus from Changzhi to Qin County, then take a taxi from Qin County’s long-distance bus station.

Further reading:

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units