Jiaocheng Yongfu Temple

Jiaocheng Yongfu Temple

Yongfu Temple in Jiaocheng is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Shanxi Province.

Yongfu Temple

Yongfu Temple (Third Batch Provincial-Level Protected Site)

Era: Ming and Qing

Address: Center of Yangqu Village, east of Jiaocheng County

　Yongfu Temple is situated 1.5 kilometers east of the county town in Yangqu Village. It was established in the second year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (582), with a total area of 7,200 square meters and an existing construction area of over 2,250 square meters, all built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is one of the earlier and larger Buddhist temples established on the plains of our county.

The temple faces south and is backed by north. To the south stands a music platform rebuilt in the 15th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1889). The platform directly faces the mountain gate (also known as the Heavenly King Hall), with side gates on both left and right, making up the traditional three gates. At the two corners are the bell and drum towers. At both ends of the stone pedestals on the terrace in front of the mountain gate, there used to be a pair of iron lions. The mountain gate has three bays in width and two in depth; the central wooden partition divides the Heavenly King Hall into inner and outer sections. Originally, two Vajrapani statues were placed outside, while four colorful statues of the Four Heavenly Kings stood inside on both sides—none of which remain today. The mountain gate was renovated during the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era, rebuilt in the 42nd year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1777), and reconstructed again in the 13th year of the Guangxu reign (1887). The bell and drum towers on the east and west sides are each one bay deep and wide, spanning two floors, and were rebuilt in the 7th year of the Guangxu reign (1881), surrounded by brick-carved railings.

The main structure in the front courtyard is the Mahavira Hall, which is three bays in width and depth. Originally, the hall housed the Trikaya Buddhas, behind which was a partition wall. On the back wall facing north was a smaller reverse-seated Guanyin niche. Flanking the front courtyard were ten rooms each on the east and west sides. The eastern rooms were used as monks’ quarters, incense storage, and warehouses, while the western ones served as meditation rooms and a gathering hall.

On either side of the Mahavira Hall are side doors leading to the rear courtyard. The main building in the rear courtyard is the Three Teachings Hall, which is three bays wide and holds the highest prominence in scale within the entire temple. The hall originally enshrined statues representing Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Each side had five-bay auxiliary halls—the eastern one being the Goddess Hall and the western the Wenchang Palace. The statues were destroyed during the Republican era.

Flanking the rear courtyard are the east and west side halls, each six bays wide—the eastern being the Sangharama Hall and the western the Kṣitigarbha Hall. The western hall houses the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva and the Ten Kings of Hell. On both sides of the entrance were formerly terrifying statues of the “Two Soul-Reaping Ghosts.” When visitors stepped on a trigger plate on the ground, the two ghosts would lurch forward, their iron chains clinking ominously. These statues were later removed after they reportedly frightened someone to death.

Yongfu Temple is a branch of Xuanzhong Temple. In the early years of the Republic of China, it was taken over by a school, and the temple statues were gradually demolished. Partition walls were added inside the halls, and all doors and windows were altered. However, the main architectural structures remained intact. Most of the historical steles once preserved in the temple were destroyed in the 1950s and 1965. Currently, two steles remain: the “Record of the Reconstruction of Yongfu Temple” from the 42nd year of the Qianlong reign and the 20th year of the Guangxu reign.

In 1982, the People's Government of Jiaocheng County designated Yongfu Temple as a county-level key cultural relic protection unit. In 1996, it was announced as a provincial-level cultural relic protected site by the People's Government of Shanxi Province.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units