White Pagoda of Puci Temple

Tianning Temple in Taigu

Tianning Temple in Taigu is a cultural tourism attraction.

Tianning Temple is located on the summit of Dafoshan Mountain, ten kilometers southeast of Taigu County, in the city of Taigu. It was first built in the 11th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1584 AD), and underwent subsequent renovations in the 39th year of the Qianlong reign and the 27th year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty.

Tianning Temple faces south and is divided into the main courtyard, east courtyard, west courtyard, and south courtyard, comprising a total of 41 halls and pavilions, covering an area of 6,680 square meters. The entire temple complex features overlapping towers and a dense array of halls.

The main hall of the principal courtyard is five bays wide, three bays deep, and three stories high, approximately 13.3 meters tall, with a structure of wood and stone. Inside the hall is enshrined a stone-carved statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, standing 8 meters tall, with a solemn and extraordinary presence. The temple is thus also known as the Great Buddha Courtyard.

Behind the temple stands an octagonal red-and-blue glazed stupa, 10 meters high and ten stories tall, which is a solid stupa. The base of the stupa has a diameter of 10 meters and a height of 1.5 meters. It was built during the Ming Dynasty and renovated in the Qing Dynasty. It is situated on the earthen wall south of Pingding County in Shanxi. According to the *Pingding Prefecture Records*, “The temple forest had an inscription written by Grand Tutor Cai Jing. Inside the temple there was a Great Mercy Pavilion, with twin stupas standing opposite each other to the east and west.” Both the Ming and Qing dynasties saw restoration work. Although the temple buildings have deteriorated, the twin stupas remain intact. The temple site is situated high, and the two stupas standing side by side are particularly eye-catching. The stupas are of the pavilion style, with an octagonal floor plan, about 30 meters high, and each level has a very steep taper, giving the structure an unusual outline. The ground level has arched niches on four sides, each housing a Buddha statue. From the second level upward, the balconies are quite high, making the structure appear like a seven-story stupa. The second and third levels feature carved false doors and straight lattice windows, while the brackets under the eaves and on the balconies resemble wooden construction. The finial jewels were replaced in the 38th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1559). Beneath the stupa lies a Northern Wei stone Buddha statue, with clear facial features and an intact body.