Baiyan Site

Fanshi Yuanzhi Temple

Fanshi Yuanzhi Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Yuanzhi Temple

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

Era: Ming

Address: Fanshi Town, Taigu County

The temple was originally built during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty and was renovated in the ninth year of the Tianhui reign of the Jin Dynasty (1132). It underwent multiple restorations during the Ming and Qing dynasties, with most of the existing structures dating from those periods.

The temple complex covers an area of approximately 9,000 square meters and currently consists of over seventy halls, laid out across two courtyards. From south to north, these include the Mountain Gate, the Reversed-Seat Heavenly King Hall, the Bell and Drum Towers, East and West Wing Rooms, the Passing Hall, East and West Side Halls, the Dajue Hall, and East and West Meditation Rooms.

Upon entering the Mountain Gate is the Heavenly King Hall. The main hall of the outer courtyard, the Thousand Buddha Hall, is a beamless hall featuring well-preserved murals of a thousand Buddhas. The east hall is the Qielan Hall, which houses a statue of Guan Yu as a Buddha, while the west hall is the Ancestral Master Hall, enshrining the Bodhidharma. The inner courtyard’s main hall is the Mahavira Hall, which houses the Three Ages of Buddhas and preserves Ming Dynasty Buddhist murals depicting Water, Land, Air, and Zero Assemblies, as well as statues of the Three Saints of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. The east hall is the Guanyin Hall, containing camphorwood carvings such as the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and the Eighteen Arhats. The west hall is the Dizang Hall, with statues of Daoming, Min Gong, and the Ten Kings of Hell.

The temple preserves glazed tiles, murals, and painted decorations.

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

Fanshi Town: I. Historical Background

Fanshi was originally known as Kangle Village or Kangle Fort, and was renamed Fanshi during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, a name it retains to this day. During the Qing Dynasty, the Fanshi area belonged to Quxi Li in the Xiuwu Township, and in the Republican era, it was part of the Second District. After liberation, Fanshi was placed under the Fifth District; in 1956, districts were abolished and townships merged, establishing Fanshi Township; in 1958, the Fanshi People’s Commune (Donghu Commune) was formed, and in 1983, Fanshi Town was established. In February 2001, the Taihu County People’s Government implemented a township and town merger reform, incorporating Wanggong Township from the Eastern Mountain Area into Fanshi Town. The newly formed Fanshi Town covers a total area of 303.39 square kilometers, making it the… More detailed information about Fanshi Town++

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units