Shangqing Temple

Shangqing Temple

Shangqing Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Shangqing Temple

Shangqing Temple (Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units)

Era: Yuan Dynasty

Address: Fudi Village, Qidao Township, Lin County

Built in the third year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (583 AD), it was formerly known as Shansun Prefecture. The temple faces south and is built against the mountain. Major structures include the Mountain Gate (rebuilt), the Mahavira Hall, and the Buddhas Hall, among others. The total area is 1,200 square meters.

The Mahavira Hall is five bays wide and three bays deep, with a single-eave hanging hip roof. The bracket sets feature intricate designs. The main hall was constructed in 1269.

Originally, Shangqing Temple was divided into an eastern and a western courtyard. The eastern courtyard was used for Buddhist activities, while the western courtyard served as the monks’ living quarters. The western courtyard included a theater stage, an offering hall, a drum tower (symmetrical to the bell tower in the eastern courtyard), a Maitreya Hall (symmetrical to the Sages Hall in the eastern courtyard), a rolled shed, a Goddess Hall, dining rooms, and monks’ dormitories, all together forming the complete Shangqing Temple. The western courtyard was later occupied by a local school, and most of its structures were demolished, with only the offering hall and seven-bay monks' dormitory remaining well-preserved.

The temple faces south and is built against the mountain. Existing structures include the Mountain Gate, the Main Hall, side halls on the east and west, corridor rooms, etc., all arranged along the central axis. The halls are layered and staggered in a well-organized layout. The corridor rooms on the east and west stand facing each other in an orderly fashion. The Main Hall is the Mahavira Hall, which is five bays wide and eight rafters deep, featuring a hanging hip roof style. The bracket sets are five-curved with a single upward curve and a single ang. The main deity is Sakyamuni Buddha, flanked by his two chief disciples, Ananda and Kasyapa. To the east is the Medicine Buddha, and to the west is Amitabha Buddha. Behind Sakyamuni Buddha is a statue of Guanyin seated on a lotus throne. Below the Main Hall, the east and west corridors include the Seven Buddhas Hall to the east and the Bodhisattva Hall to the west, with the main deity being Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva. The Main Hall and side halls of the temple are covered with glazed tiles and decorated with ornate ridge ornaments in vivid colors. Viewed from afar across the hills, the bright colors create a dazzling sight, truly reflecting the architectural style of the Yuan Dynasty. The overall layout is rational, the structure rigorous, and the Main Hall uses the typical Yuan Dynasty method of construction known as “column-reduction.”

Shangqing Temple has a long history, with a rigorously structured main building. Its wood carvings and brick carvings showcase exquisite craftsmanship, possessing high scientific research and cultural artistic value. It is one of the few historical and cultural heritage sites that remain in Lin County.

In May 2006, Shangqing Temple, as an ancient building from the Yuan Dynasty, was approved by the State Council to be included in the Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units