Xiaoyi Three Sovereigns Temple

Xiaoyi Three Sovereigns Temple

The Xiaoyi Three Sovereigns Temple is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a national key cultural relics protection unit.

The Three Sovereigns Temple, located in the middle of Sanhuangmiao Street in Jiama Village, Xiaoyi City, Shanxi Province, is a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit. It was expanded and renovated multiple times during the Ming and Qing dynasties, but the earliest existing architectural structures date back to the Yuan Dynasty. Experts widely agree that it is rare in China to find a Three Sovereigns Temple that retains its original site, appearance, and complete temple complex.

The temple is 59 meters wide from north to south and 84 meters long from east to west, featuring a two-courtyard layout. The powerful plaque inscribed with “Three Sovereigns Temple” is embedded in the lintel of the original mountain gate. Along the central axis are the Music Tower and the Three Sovereigns Hall. In the front courtyard, there is a stele corridor to the south and a side gate in the northeast corner, serving as the passage between the first and second courtyards. Due to the significant elevation difference between the two courtyards, steps are placed in front of the side gate for ease of access. The main hall of the Three Sovereigns in the rear courtyard faces east and is situated to the west; inside, the central deities enshrined are Fuxi (the Heavenly Sovereign), Shennong (the Divine Farmer), and Huangdi (the Yellow Emperor), flanked by statues of the Ten Ancient Famous Physicians. The northern and southern walls are painted with stories related to these physicians. The murals are brightly colored with clear lines. The side halls to the left and right house the God of Wealth and the God of Cattle and Horses, respectively. A wooden plaque inscribed with “Three Sovereigns Temple” hangs high above the main hall’s lintel, a gift from Liang Minghan, a native of the county and a Jinshi (advanced scholar) of the Ming Jiajing era and Sichuan Censor. Towering ancient pines stand beneath the vermilion steps, and flagpoles with tassels flank the main hall. On both the southern and northern sides, there is a row of side corridors where the temple’s bells and drums are currently placed.

Opposite the main hall is the Music Tower, which has been rebuilt several times since the Ming and Qing dynasties. Its exquisite craftsmanship and ornate carvings feature a plaque from the eighth year of the Republic of China. The raised gold characters reading “Sea-Mirror City” (a metaphor for an illusory, magnificent sight) were inscribed by Qin Longguang, a renowned calligrapher of the late Qing Dynasty. The ceiling of the Music Tower is painted with the 108 heroes of Liangshan, each vivid and lifelike. Between the front and back stages, large painted glass panels are inlaid, adding splendor to the entire theater, earning it the reputation of a “glass theater.” It once created a local trend where people attended performances just to see the stage.

Most of the buildings within the Three Sovereigns Temple are well-preserved. The temple authentically reflects the layout of Taoist temple architecture, especially as the main hall still retains its original Yuan Dynasty beams and architectural components. The structure is simple yet sturdy, showcasing the architectural concepts of that specific historical period. It holds significant historical and scientific value, along with a refined cultural essence.

The “Three Sovereigns” enshrined in the temple are Fuxi, Shennong, and Huangdi. Legend has it that Fuxi created the Eight Trigrams to define the four directions and taught people fishing and hunting by making nets; Shennong cultivated the five grains to advance agriculture and tasted hundreds of herbs to develop herbal medicine; Huangdi invented farming tools and established the solar terms. Together, the “Three Sovereigns” are revered as the cultural ancestors of the Chinese nation, widely acknowledged by the Chinese people. Worship, public sacrifices, and folk rituals have been held throughout the dynasties without interruption, with incense burning continuously and devotion enduring through the ages.

To promote the virtues of the Three Sovereigns, inherit their culture, and fulfill the wishes of descendants of the Yan and Huang Emperors to worship their ancestors—thereby preserving traditions and boosting the local economy—the Jiama Village Committee, heeding the will of the people, completed the first phase of the Three Sovereigns Temple renovation project in June 2005 (the fourth month of the Yiyou year).

In May 2013, the Xiaoyi Three Sovereigns Temple scenic area was announced as part of the seventh batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

Phone: 0358-7828220

Address: Xiaoyi City, Lüliang, Shanxi Province

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units