Shengshou Temple in Lingkong Mountain

Shengshou Temple in Lingkong Mountain

Shengshou Temple in Lingkong Mountain is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Era: Ming to Qing Dynasty

Address: Located 19 kilometers northwest of Qinyuan County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province, within the valley of Lingkong Mountain, halfway up a cliff

Shengshou Temple in Lingkong Mountain is located in Lingkong Mountain, Lingkongshan Town, Qinyuan County. The temple faces south and is composed of five courtyards aligned in a row, each with its own entrance gate but interconnected. According to temple inscriptions, it was first built during the Tang Dynasty and was named Shengshou Temple in the second year of the Duan'gong era (989 AD) of the Northern Song Dynasty. The existing structures are primarily from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The five courtyards of Shengshou Temple, from west to east, are the Arhat Courtyard, Kiln Tower Courtyard, Central Courtyard, Guan Yu Courtyard, and Monks’ Quarters Courtyard. Behind the courtyards, cliff walls feature purification caves carved in the late Tang Dynasty. Nearby are the Mountain-Range Bridge and Immortal Bridge, both built during the Ming Dynasty. The main hall of the Central Courtyard has a width of five bays, a flush-gable roof covered with glazed tiles, and bracket sets with double ang under the eaves, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.

The layout of Shengshou Temple in Lingkong Mountain is flexible, with the architecture blending harmoniously with the surrounding natural environment. The temple encompasses diverse religious and cultural elements, possessing significant historical and artistic value.

In May 2013, Shengshou Temple in Lingkong Mountain was designated as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units