Qionglai Temple Complex

Qionglai Temple Complex

The Qionglai Temple Complex is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Sichuan Province.

Qionglai Temple Complex (Qionglai City)

1. Shisun Temple

Shisun Temple is located in Hechang Village Group 1, Gaowo Town, Qionglai City. Originally built during the Tang Dynasty, it was initially called “Seven Buddhas Temple,” renamed “Shisun Temple” in the Ming Dynasty, and renovated in the fifth year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1740). The surviving part of the temple includes the main hall, which faces west and is oriented east. It is a single-eave hip-and-gable roof structure supported by a post-and-lintel wooden frame, with a width of five bays and a floor area of 200 square meters. The main hall’s nine-rafter beam system uses front and rear breast summer beams supported by five columns, and inside the hall are statues of Chuanzhu and Wenchang. In front of the porch, the columns are supported by carved stone drum-shaped pedestals, resting on a plain base. Nearby, the “Shisun” rock features cliff carvings dating from the Tang to Ming Dynasties. This site provides physical material for studying the architectural characteristics of temples in the region during the Qing Dynasty.

Protective boundary: Defined by the existing surrounding wall.

Construction control zone: Extends 50 meters beyond the protective boundary.

2. Xingfu Temple

Xingfu Temple is located in Xingfu Village Group 6, Huojing Town, Qionglai City. Originally built in the 30th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1515), the temple’s overall layout is divided into Axis A and Axis B, each with separate entrances through Gate A and Gate B. The rear section connects the two groups of buildings via a corridor-style wooden structure. The total building area is 2,655 square meters, covering a land area of 15,280 square meters. Axis A consists of the Mountain Gate, Three Saints Hall, and Guanyin Hall: the Mountain Gate is a three-story stone structure imitating wood, with a total height of 7.4 meters; the Three Saints Hall is a single-eave gable-and-hip roof building, 19 meters wide across five bays; the Guanyin Hall is a double-eave hip-and-gable roof building, 13.8 meters wide across three bays. Axis B consists of the Mountain Gate, Dizang Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Seven Buddhas Hall: the Mountain Gate is a hip-and-gable wooden structure, 16.3 meters wide across five bays; the Dizang Hall is a gable-and-hip wooden and stone structure, 10.5 meters wide across three bays; the Mahavira Hall is a gable-and-hip wooden and stone structure, 14.5 meters wide across three bays; the Seven Buddhas Hall is a double-eave hip-and-gable wooden and stone structure, 21 meters wide across five bays. The current surviving buildings mostly date to the Qing Dynasty, except for parts of the Mahavira Hall and Dizang Hall that retain Ming Dynasty features. Xingfu Temple holds significant historical, artistic, and research value for ancient architecture.

Protective boundary: Defined by the existing surrounding wall.

Construction control zone: Extends 50 meters beyond the protective boundary.

3. Yongle Temple

Yongle Temple is located in Maping Village Group 8, Tiantai Mountain Town, Qionglai City. Built during the Ming Dynasty and renovated in the Qing Dynasty, the temple currently preserves parts of the Main Hall, Patriarch Hall, Memorial Archway, Screen Wall, and stone lions. The Main Hall faces southwest and is oriented northeast; it is a single-eave hip-and-gable roof wooden structure. The Patriarch Hall is also a single-eave hip-and-gable roof wooden structure, connected to the Main Hall by a stepped stone path. The Memorial Archway was built in the 42nd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1614). It is a three-story stone structure imitating wood, intricately carved with figures, birds, beasts, flowers, clouds, and dragon motifs, all exquisitely detailed. The archway is 8.65 meters high and 9.65 meters wide. The Screen Wall is a stone-carved structure with a double-eave pavilion-style roof, built in the 4th year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty (1631), featuring a vivid central relief carving of a qilin (Chinese unicorn). The screen wall is 5.15 meters high and 10.6 meters long. Yongle Temple is of great importance for studying the development of Buddhism in the Tiantai Mountain area during the Ming Dynasty.

Protective boundary: Extends 10 meters beyond the current occupied area.

Construction control zone: Extends 20 meters beyond the protective boundary.

In 2006, the People's Government of Sichuan Province designated Xingfu Temple, Shisun Temple, and Yongle Temple as part of the sixth batch of provincial-level cultural heritage protection units.