Jizhao Temple in Sanduo Village

Jizhao Temple in Sanduo Village

Jizhao Temple in Sanduo Village is a cultural relic protection unit of Shanxi Province.

Jizhao Temple in Sanduo Village (Fifth Batch Provincial-Level Protected Site)

Era: Ming and Qing Dynasties

Address: Sanduo Village, Gaoyang Town, Xiaoyi City

According to inscriptions, the temple was first built in the 45th year of the Wanli era during the Ming Dynasty (1617) and underwent renovations during the Qing Dynasty. It faces south and features a two-courtyard layout. Along the central axis from south to north are the Mountain Gate, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, as well as the Guanyin Hall and Sangharama Hall on both sides; from north to south along the sides are the Dragon King Hall, Patriarch Hall, Arhat Hall, and Kṣitigarbha Hall. The east and west wing rooms in the second courtyard and the east and west wing rooms, east meditation room, and west meditation room in the first courtyard are also part of the layout. Among the existing structures, the Mountain Gate and Mahavira Hall date back to the Ming Dynasty, while the rest are Qing Dynasty constructions. The Sangharama Hall and Guanyin Hall preserve over 30 square meters of Ming and Qing murals.

The Heavenly King Hall is three bays wide and five rafters deep, with a front eave corridor and a single-slope flush-gable roof. The beam frame consists of a five-rafter beam paired with a front single-step beam using three columns. Between the five-rafter beam and the three-rafter beam is a bracket set (tuodun), and atop the three-rafter beam are ridge purlin pillars, angle backs, and forked braces supporting the ridge purlin.

The Mahavira Hall has three brick-constructed cave chambers, with a front-inserted corridor style. The single-step beams are inserted into the arched walls, forming a single-slope flush-gable roof.

The Guanyin Hall and Sangharama Hall share the same design. Both are three bays wide and four rafters deep, with front corridors and a single-eave flush-gable roof. The beam frames consist of a three-rafter beam paired with a front single-step beam using three columns. On the three-rafter beam are ridge purlin pillars, angle backs, and dinghua makejiao brackets supporting the front eave. The front eave columns hold one-dou-three-sheng bracket sets, arranged in multiple tiers. The interior features murals covering approximately 34 square meters.

On the south wall of the temple’s Mountain Gate, there are two extant stone stelae, one of which is inscribed with “Jizhao Chanlin” (Jizhao Buddhist Grove).

The existing structures of Jizhao Temple in Sanduo Village are remnants of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, bearing distinctive period features and rich cultural connotations. Its history of establishment and evolution is clear, making it a physical testament to the study of regional Buddhist culture and monastic architecture.

The temple has an intact layout, integrating wooden structures, brick arched buildings, and vivid murals. It is a fine example among the surviving Ming and Qing Buddhist temples in Xiaoyi City.

Source: Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Sanduo Village: Sanduo Village... More detailed information about Sanduo Village++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units