Main Hall of Kaishan Temple

Main Hall of Kaishan Temple

The Main Hall of Kaishan Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Main Hall of Kaishan Temple is located in Yingjing County, Sichuan Province; the only remaining structure of Kaishan Temple today is the Main Hall, built in the 17th year of the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty (1481). The hall has a square floor plan, with a width and depth of three bays each, approximately 14.5 meters, making it a typical large wooden-structured building from the Ming Dynasty. It features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with a raised-beam wooden structure, an eight-rafter span supported by four pillars. Both the front and rear eaves as well as the gable walls are equipped with bracket sets (dougong), which feature complex designs and fine craftsmanship. The front eave lintel is exquisitely carved with patterns such as “Double Phoenixes Facing the Sun” and “Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl,” presenting a solemn and majestic appearance that retains the style of early ancient architecture.

The Main Hall of Kaishan Temple is a key cultural relics protection unit and a Ming Dynasty temple building. The main hall is located in Yingjing County, Sichuan Province. The only remaining structure of Kaishan Temple today is the Main Hall, built in the 17th year of the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty (1481). The hall has a square floor plan, with a width and depth of three bays each, approximately 14.5 meters, making it a typical large wooden-structured building from the Ming Dynasty. It features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with a raised-beam wooden structure, an eight-rafter span supported by four pillars. Both the front and rear eaves as well as the gable walls are equipped with bracket sets (dougong), which feature complex designs and fine craftsmanship. The front eave lintel is exquisitely carved with patterns such as “Double Phoenixes Facing the Sun” and “Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl,” presenting a solemn and majestic appearance that retains the style of early ancient architecture. Kaishan Temple, also known as Kaishan Si, is located on Minzhu Road in Yandao Town, Yingjing County. Only the main hall remains, built in the 17th year of the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty (1481). The main hall has a square floor plan, with both width and depth spanning three bays of 14.55 meters each, and features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with well-preserved beam structures. The eaves are adorned with seven-tiered bracket sets, and the lintels are decorated with deep relief carvings that are delicate, intricate, and fluid in line. The Main Hall of Kaishan Temple retains elements of early architectural style while also exhibiting local architectural characteristics, making it a valuable historical resource for the study of architectural history.

Protected Area: The area within the current building’s surrounding wall, specifically 40 meters to the north adjacent to the street, 3 meters to the east and 3 meters to the south neighboring the County Electric Power Company (Kaishan Temple Hydropower Station), and 60 meters to the west extending to residential houses. The total area is 1,778.8 square meters.

Construction Control Zone: Extends eastward from the protected area to Ruoshui Square, westward to Jiangjia Courtyard, southward to Xiaoping Mountain, and northward to Renmin Road.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units