Jinci Temple

Jinci Temple

Jinci Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Jinci Temple

Jinci Temple (Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units)

Era: Yuan to Qing Dynasties

Address: Mahé Village, Mahé Township, 17 km east of Lingshi County

It was built during the Zhizheng era (1341–1368) of Emperor Huizong of the Yuan Dynasty, and underwent three major restorations during the Jiajing era (1522–1566) of Emperor Shizong, the Longqing era (1567–1572) of Emperor Muzong, and the Wanli era (1573–1620) of Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty. The existing structures include the main hall, offering pavilion, theater stage, bell and drum towers, and side halls.

The main hall, called the “Hall of the Holy Mother Zhaoji,” features a single-eave hanging gable roof and covers a construction area of 132 square meters. The offering hall was built during the Yuan Dynasty, has a square floor plan, and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. The entire structure is supported by four corner pillars and eight auxiliary pillars, with the tops of the pillars fitted with five-purlin double-ang bracket sets.

The theater stage was built in the 13th year of the Daoguang era (1833) of Emperor Xuanzong of the Qing Dynasty, with a construction area of 80 square meters. On both sides of the front facade of the stage are stone pillars inscribed with a couplet. The upper line reads: “Praise virtue, honor loyalty, filial piety, chastity, and righteousness with eternal glory,” and the lower line reads: “Condemn evil, punish wickedness, theft, lewdness, and violence with severe justice.”

Several stone stelae are preserved within the temple, the earliest dating back to the 17th year of the Wanli era (1619) of the Ming Dynasty.

Mahé Village: Located 12 km east of the county seat, Mahé Village borders the historically and culturally renowned town of Jingsheng and National Highway 108 to the north, the Taiyue Mountain range (a branch of the Taihang Mountains) to the southeast, and Qilin Expressway runs alongside the village. To the west, it neighbors Cuifeng Town of the same county. The village has a total population of over 3,200, including 2,800 agricultural residents and 400 non-agricultural residents, covering 4,780 mu of arable land. The village’s economy is primarily based on agriculture. With fertile land, fresh air, beautiful surroundings, and simple, honest folkways, it is an ideal place for a peaceful life.

In recent years, our village has… More details about Mahé Village++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units