Fai’an Temple

Fai’an Temple

Fai’an Temple is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Shanxi Province.

Fai’an Temple (Fifth Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: Ming, Qing, and Republic of China

Address: Beiguo Village, Shuixiu Township, Taigu County, Jinzhong City

According to the Taigu County Annals editions from the Qing Qianlong, Guangxu, and Republic of China periods, Fai’an Temple in Beiguo Village was established in the second year of the Zhiyuan era during the Yuan Dynasty (1309). Temple stele inscriptions indicate that it was renovated in the 27th year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1548), during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1662–1722), and in the 8th year of the Republic of China (1919). The temple faces south and has a two-courtyard layout with a separate meditation courtyard. Along the central axis are the mountain gate (destroyed during the Cultural Revolution), the passageway hall, and the main hall. On both sides of the front courtyard were the bell and drum towers and the east and west side halls (destroyed during the Cultural Revolution); the rear courtyard features east and west side halls and side chambers on both sides. The meditation courtyard currently retains one meditation hall. The existing passageway hall is a Ming Dynasty structure, the side chamber is from the Republic of China period, and the rest of the buildings date to the Qing Dynasty.

The passageway hall is three bays wide and six rafters deep, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. It has a seven-rafter front-projecting corridor-style framework, with five crossbeams paired with front and rear single-step beams, using four columns throughout the span. The beams... have through-tenon joints installed at intervals. The hall’s interior features brackets on the front eaves and the second level, all of the same style... The roof ridge is adorned with a gable wall, and the construction is relatively refined. Both sides feature through-tenon work, and there are corner braces. The outer eave brackets are of the second rank, and the principal ridge is similarly styled... The roof corners have rounded rafter ends, and the corner columns are slightly angled. Although the main framework of the passageway hall follows Ming Dynasty construction methods, some structural elements retain Yuan Dynasty techniques. The original roof ridge ornaments were made of glazed tiles but were replaced with gray earthenware during Qing Dynasty renovations. Currently, the ridge decorations and finials feature a treasure basin in the center with mirror patterns on both sides, accented with square panels of peacock-blue glazed tiles on the roof surface and a glazed tile border along the eaves. The walls were reconstructed during the Republic of China period. The structure contains rich historical information.

The main hall is five bays wide and six rafters deep, with a single-eave flush-gable roof. The brackets are of the second rank, and the principal ridge is straight. The eave brackets are shaped like lotus petals, and the carved figures on the bracket arms include floral and vine motifs, representing construction styles from the Republic of China period. The hall’s interior features painted decoration.

The temple houses an iron bell cast in the 6th year of the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty (1470), a Qing Dynasty stele recording renovations, and an inscription from the 8th year of the Republic of China (1919) located at the bottom of the ridge beam in the central bay of the passageway hall. The brackets under the eaves of the main hall and the painted decorations on the beams and brackets cover an area of 20 square meters.

The layout of the Fai’an Temple courtyard is relatively intact. Although the main framework of the passageway hall exhibits Ming Dynasty characteristics, some structural elements show Yuan Dynasty influences, making it an important physical testament to the temple’s establishment during the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty. Various parts of the temple’s architecture bear renovation traces from the Yuan to the Republic of China periods, containing rich historical information and offering significant value for historical research.

The main hall, the east and west side halls (in the rear courtyard), and the bell and drum towers are Qing Dynasty structures, while the side chamber (in the rear courtyard) is a Republic of China building. These reflect the over 600-year development history of Fai’an Temple from the Yuan to the Republic of China period. Such long-spanning, well-preserved Buddhist temple architecture from different eras is relatively rare within Taigu County and serves as a physical example for studying the development history of Buddhist temple architecture in the Jinzhong region.

Information source: Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Beiguo Village: Overview of Beiguo Village

Village Profile

Beiguo Village is located at the border between Taigu and Qingxu, about 10 kilometers from the county seat. It lies west of the Tai-Xu First-Class Highway, south of the Longcheng Expressway exit and the Datong–Xi’an High-Speed Railway, adjacent to National Highway 108, enjoying a superior geographical location and convenient transportation. The village currently has over 4,700 mu of arable land, with 960 households and a population of 3,100. Under the leadership of the higher-level Party committee and government, the village’s two committees are united in their efforts. With a positive atmosphere of “wholeheartedly seeking development and focusing energy on construction,” while striving to maintain rural social stability,... More detailed information about Beiguo Village ++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units