Hongfu Temple in Liangcun

Hongfu Temple in Liangcun

Hongfu Temple in Liangcun is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Hongfu Temple in Liangcun

Era: Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties

Address: Liangcun, Guxian Town, Qixian County, Jinzhong City

According to stone plaques embedded in the mountain gate and the south hall of the temple, Hongfu Temple was originally built in the first year of the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty (713), and was renovated during the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty (1567–1572), the fifth year of the Tianqi era (1625), the 21st year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1755), and the 26th year of the Republic of China (1937). It faces south and has a single-courtyard layout, with the mountain gate, south hall, and main hall situated along the central axis, flanked by east and west side halls. In the southeast corner of the east side hall lies a monk’s courtyard, which contains a west side hall and a corridor within a one-courtyard layout, while the second courtyard only retains the corridor and west side room. The existing main hall is a structure from the Yuan Dynasty, the south hall is a Ming Dynasty building, and the rest are Qing Dynasty constructions.

The main hall is the principal building of the temple and the earliest surviving structure, featuring a width of three bays, a depth of six rafters, and a single-eave hanging hip roof. The middle bay of the rear eave features a single-eave gabled pavilion, with the gable facing north. The architectural plan forms a “convex” shape. The roof truss of the hall consists of four rafters supporting a six-rafter system, using three columns along the span, with a front porch. The bracket sets on the front eave feature a complex design, with the front eave bracket set being particularly intricate. The roof truss and bracket sets are adorned with colorful paintings spanning 381 square meters. The temple also houses one Qing Dynasty stele documenting its renovation history.

The south hall is three bays wide and four rafters deep, with a single-eave flush gable roof. The roof truss inside consists of a three-rafter beam paired with a single-step front beam, using three columns along the span. The front eave features one set each of bracket sets for general use and for column tops, both of the same design—three-curved single-ang. A stone plaque is embedded in the center of the rear eave wall, recording the construction and renovation dates of Hongfu Temple in Liangcun.

The roof trusses and bracket sets of both the main and south halls are decorated with colored paintings covering 381 square meters. The temple also preserves one Qing Dynasty stele documenting its renovation.

Hongfu Temple in Liangcun is one of the largest and best-preserved Buddhist temples in Qixian County, holding significant historical research value. The main hall of Hongfu Temple and that of Xingfan Temple are the only two surviving early architectural structures in Qixian, serving as valuable examples for studying Yuan Dynasty rural temple architecture in the Jinzhong region.

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

Source: Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Guxian Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Qixian County. Established as Guxian Commune in 1958 and upgraded to a town in 1984. Located in the central-southern part of the county, 7 kilometers from the county seat. Tai-Luo Highway passes through the area. It administers 23 village committees: Shangguxian, Xiaguxian, Yinxiang, Gaobei, Luoyang, Liangcun, Wangxian, Yuantaigou, Jianhe, Dahan, Xiaohan, Wenqu, Xiayanchan, Shencun, Zhangming, Yanman, Dasang, Xiaosang, Yanming, Pushang, Dongcheng, Rongrenbao, and Renheyao. Local enterprises include agricultural machinery, glassware, stainless steel products, brewing, and oxygen production factories. The main agricultural products are wheat, corn, millet, with abundant apple and pear production.

Guxian... More details about Guxian Town++

Further reading:

· Fifth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units