Changning Grand Temple

Changning Grand Temple

Changning Grand Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Location: Changning Village, Dongyangguan Town, Licheng County Era: Yuan to Qing dynasties Value: Possesses significant historical and artistic value

Lingyuan Sacred Well Temple, commonly known as Shengwang Temple, is located in Changning Village, Dongyangguan Town, Licheng County, and is also called Changning Grand Temple. It features a one-courtyard, two-hall layout, faces south, and measures 49 meters from north to south and 31 meters from east to west, covering an area of 1,519 square meters. The exact date of its establishment is unknown. The existing main hall is a relic from the Yuan Dynasty, while the other structures date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Along the central axis from south to north are a brick screen wall, the mountain gate (a reverse-facing opera tower), the offering hall, the main hall, and the rear hall. On the east and west sides are side rooms, auxiliary rooms, wing halls, and corridors. The main hall is built on a stone platform that is 11.26 meters long, 2.85 meters wide, and 0.75 meters high. The hall has five bays in width and six rafters in depth, with a single-eave hanging gable roof and glazed ridge ornaments. The four-rafter beams rest on bracket sets, and the structure is supported by wooden columns. Intricate carvings adorn the beams and brackets. The hall features painted decorations. The side rooms are elegantly designed. The mountain gate consists of two parts: the lower level serves as the entrance to the temple, and the upper level functions as a reverse-facing opera stage. On both sides of the main gate are additional arched side doors. Inside the temple are one Ming Dynasty and one Qing Dynasty stele commemorating renovations, as well as four stone tablets.

The mountain gate is composed of two sections: the ground floor serves as the entrance to the temple, while the second floor functions as a reverse-facing opera stage. On either side of the main gate are additional round arch side entrances. Inside the temple are one Ming Dynasty and one Qing Dynasty renovation stele, along with four stone inscriptions.

Lingyuan Sacred Well Temple is a well-preserved ancient architectural complex that integrates the styles of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The main hall retains numerous Yuan Dynasty architectural components, featuring carefully selected and grand-scale materials. The offering hall and the opera-style mountain gate exhibit Ming Dynasty characteristics, while the side rooms reflect Qing Dynasty styles. The overall layout is rigorous and follows traditional standards, showcasing distinct temporal features and regional construction techniques. The temple also houses several Qing Dynasty stone tablets inscribed with poems by local celebrities.

The temple serves as a physical testament for studying early ancient architecture and local cultural history. It is an important cultural heritage site in the city, possessing significant historical and artistic value.

In May 2013, Changning Grand Temple was designated as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Changning Village: Introduction to Changning Village

Changning Village is situated on a plain. The Yongjin Canal enters the village from the northwest and flows southeast. It is located 12.5 kilometers northeast of the county seat. To the southeast is Dashugou at a distance of 2.5 kilometers, to the south is Xiaokou also 2.5 kilometers away, to the west is Xincun, to the north is Xiaoshushan at 1.5 kilometers, and to the east is Huizhong at 2.5 kilometers. The village has 640 households, a population of 2,159, and cultivated land area of 409 hectares.

… Changning Village detailed information++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units