Xiyang Fuyan Temple

Xiyang Fuyan Temple

Xiyang Fuyan Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Shanxi Province.

Fuyan Temple (Fifth Batch of Provincial Protected Sites)

Era: Yuan and Qing Dynasties

Address: Huangyan Village, Zhaobi Township, Xiyang County, Jinzhong City

According to the 1548 *Leping County Annals* from the Ming Dynasty’s Jiajing era (1548), the 1734 *Shanxi General Annals* from the Qing Dynasty’s Yongzheng era (1734), the 1915 *Xiyang County Annals Revised Edition* from the 4th year of the Republic of China (1915), and inscriptions on the restoration stele, Fuyan Temple was originally built in 1345 during the Yuan Dynasty’s Zhizheng era. It underwent multiple renovations in 1657 (the 14th year of the Qing Shunzhi era), 1859 (the 9th year of the Xianfeng era), and 1863 (the 2nd year of the Tongzhi era). The temple faces south and features a single-courtyard layout. Originally, it had a main hall, a south hall, a theater stage, bell and drum towers, east and west side halls, east and west wing rooms, and east and west corridors. Today, only the main hall, bell and drum towers, east and west side halls, east wing room, and east corridor remain. Among the extant structures, the main hall is a relic from the Yuan Dynasty, while the rest date to the Qing Dynasty.

The main hall has an almost square floor plan, with three bays in width and six rafters in depth. It features a single-eave, hanging hip roof. Its beam framework consists of four rafters extending over six columns, with column capitals featuring smoothly curved curves. The front eaves have brackets arranged in seven tiers, all of which are six-tiered with single bracket arms and double downward cantilevers. The interstitial brackets utilize diagonal arches, forming a “rice character” pattern on the plane, with horizontal beams using angled bracket arms. The craftsmanship is exquisite and the style is distinct. The original carvings are ancient. The interior of the hall is solemn, with high walls and open spaces, allowing natural light and ventilation, creating a uniquely serene atmosphere. The rear section is built with closely spaced timber frames. The wooden structure and spatial layout are harmonious and rational, displaying notable regional architectural characteristics. In particular, the six-tiered interstitial brackets on the front eaves adopt traditional central symmetry and angled arch design principles, achieving an excellent balance between structural performance and aesthetic form, making them highly representative when studying the evolution of regional ancient architecture. Source: Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

The temple also houses three restored steles of Fuyan Temple and one fragmented Buddhist pagoda pillar.

The main hall of Fuyan Temple is a Yuan Dynasty structure. Its beam framework system, the construction of the tension tie joints, and the sizes of bracket sets all exhibit distinct Yuan Dynasty features. Especially notable are the six-tiered interstitial brackets on the front eaves, which use traditional central symmetry and angled arch designs. The combination of structural effectiveness and architectural form is highly refined, making it valuable material for researching the construction techniques of ancient architecture in the region. Information source: Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Huangyan Village: Located in the northernmost part of Zhaobi Township, Huangyan Village is traversed by the Lijie Highway. The village has 520 households, a population of 1,506, and cultivates 2,684 mu of farmland. The total annual income of the village economy is 7.35 million yuan, with an average per capita income of 2,969 yuan for farmers. The village currently has 7 branch committee members, 5 village committee members, and 65 party members. In recent years, Huangyan Village has actively responded to higher-level calls, earnestly promoting the development of new rural communities and achieving remarkable results. It has been commended and rewarded by higher authorities on multiple occasions and has been listed as one of the second batch of key promoted villages for new rural construction in the entire province.

Huangyan Village has seen rapid economic development. In recent years, ... More detailed information about Huangyan Village ++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units