Qiaoze Temple Stage

Qiaoze Temple Stage

Qiaoze Temple Stage is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Qiaoze Temple Stage

Qiaoze Temple Stage (Sixth Batch of National Heritage Sites)

Era: Yuan Dynasty

Address: Located in Qiaoze Temple in Wuchi Village, Nanliang Town, seven kilometers southeast of Yicheng County

Also known as the Water God Temple, the temple has been destroyed but the stage remains. Originally built in the first year of the Taiding era of the Yuan Dynasty (1324). Renovated in 1984. The stage faces south and is built on a platform 1.6 meters high, continuing the architectural style of dance pavilions from the Song and Jin dynasties. It has a square floor plan, measuring 9.4 meters in width and 9.35 meters in depth, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. The pitch and curvature are moderate, and it is covered with tubular and flat tiles. The front and both sides of the stage are open, with four corner pillars at the front, and four supporting pillars inside the back wall and rear sides, totaling eight pillars bearing the roof load. Above the corner pillars are large horizontal beams forming a well-frame structure, supporting an elaborate eight-trigram caisson ceiling from the outside in. The structure is exquisitely crafted and logically designed. It is the largest surviving Yuan Dynasty stage in China and serves as important physical material for the study of Yuan Dynasty zaju drama and the history of Chinese theater.

In May 2006, the Qiaoze Temple Stage was approved by the State Council to be included in the Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units as an ancient building from the Yuan Dynasty.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units