Changze Puming Temple

Changze Puming Temple

Changze Puming Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Changze Puming Temple

Era: Ming Dynasty

Address: Changze Village, Xiangyuan Township, Pingyao County, Jinzhong City

The founding date of Changze Puming Temple is unknown. The temple faces south and consists of a single-courtyard layout. Along the central axis from south to north are, in sequence, the mountain gate and the main hall. On both sides of the courtyard are the east and west side halls and the east and west wing rooms, giving the entire compound a traditional siheyuan (quadrangle) form. All existing structures were built during the Ming Dynasty.

The mountain gate is three bays wide and four rafters deep, with a single-eave hanging hip roof. The front and rear eaves are adorned with three-curved single-angling bracket sets, while the interior features five-curved double-angling bracket sets with skipped hearts. There is one set each of column-top and intercolumnar bracket sets. The central bays of the front and rear eaves are fitted with four-panel six-fold partition doors, and the side bays of the rear eaves have straight lattice windows. At the junction of the front eave wall and the gable walls are eight-character screen walls, and the front eave steps feature a cross-patterned balustrade wall. Traces of colored paintings on the beams and brackets can still be faintly discerned, all dating from the Ming Dynasty.

The main hall is built atop a platform over one meter high. It is three bays wide and four rafters deep, with a single-eave hanging hip roof. The roof is decorated with gray-tiled ridge ornaments and floral ridge tiles, and the tilework is of relatively large size. The beam frame consists of a three-rafter beam set against front and rear single-step beams, supported by four columns. The front eave brackets are supported on column tops, while the rear eave brackets rest on bracket arms. The front eave features a rich array of bracket decorations, among which the corner bracket sets on the side eaves display early-style characteristics. The beam and bracket components are finely crafted, with clear layering and strong three-dimensionality. The wooden columns are all round and straight, with large diameters. The base of the central column is adorned with carved lotus patterns. The roof eaves have gentle slopes. The wooden structure is sturdy and robust, with well-preserved mortise-and-tenon joints. The painted decoration inside the hall is faintly visible and quite faded. The wooden plaque inscribed with the hall’s name is suspended under the front eave. The floor is paved with large bluestones, which are also quite worn. The wooden doors and windows are old and simple. The overall architectural style is simple yet elegant, demonstrating distinct characteristics of Ming Dynasty architecture.

Within the temple are one iron bell cast in the sixth year of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty (1511), one stone stele from the Wanli era, and two stone tablets.

Changze Puming Temple is extremely rare among the surviving Ming Dynasty temples in the Jinzhong region and is one of the best-preserved Ming Dynasty temples in the area. It provides important physical evidence for the study of Buddhist temple architecture in this region.

Although the main hall and mountain gate of the temple are remnants from the Ming Dynasty, many structural elements exhibit features characteristic of Yuan Dynasty architecture—such as the larger-sized bracket sets, the higher placement of bracket arms, and the uniformly inverted-bowl-shaped column bases. The gently sloped roof pitch, among other details, authentically reflects the features of early-period architecture. These elements serve as physical evidence of the transitional phase from early Yuan Dynasty architecture to Ming Dynasty architecture.

On October 7, 2019, Changze Puming Temple was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Source: Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Changze Village: Changze Village

Located in a hilly area, 18 kilometers northeast of the county seat. Legend has it that the village was originally named Deyi Village before being renamed Changze Village. Changze Reservoir is situated in this village. The village has 3,552 mu of arable land and is primarily engaged in forestry and fruit farming.

…… More detailed information about Changze Village ++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units