Taigu Tianning Temple

Xincun Miaojue Temple

Xincun Miaojue Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Xincun Miaojue Temple (Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units)

Era: Ming to Qing Dynasties

Address: In the center of Xincun Village, Yangyi Township, Taigu County

Xincun Miaojue Temple is located in Xincun Village, Yangyi Township, Taigu County. It faces south and originally consisted of two courtyards and a west courtyard. The surviving part of the temple includes one courtyard, which is 40 meters wide from east to west and 40 meters long from north to south, covering an area of 1,600 square meters. The construction date of the original temple is unknown, but the existing structures were built during the Ming Dynasty. It has undergone multiple renovations since then, with a major restoration carried out in the 25th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1899).

Currently, only one courtyard of Miaojue Temple remains. The mountain gate, bell tower, and drum tower in the front courtyard have been destroyed. Along the central axis from south to north are the passageway hall and the Mahavira Hall, flanked by east and west side halls and east and west wing rooms. The west courtyard contains the main hall and east and west wing rooms. The Mahavira Hall is a Ming Dynasty structure, three bays wide and seven rafters deep, with a front porch and a hipped roof covered with grey tiles and glazed tile trimming. Its brackets and arches are typical of the Ming style. The east and west side halls and other structures are also Ming Dynasty buildings. The front eaves feature carved beams and painted rafters, with colored paintings on the wooden components. The bracket sets are delicate, and the roof is covered with small grey tiles. The west courtyard houses the main hall and east and west wing rooms, all of which are relatively well-preserved, with clear structural features and rich decorative details.

Xincun Miaojue Temple exhibits characteristics of Ming Dynasty wooden architecture and serves as an important example for the study of the evolution of ancient Chinese wooden architectural forms.

In May 2013, Xincun Miaojue Temple was designated as part of the Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units