Shanzusi Temple at Mount Wutai

Shanzusi Temple at Mount Wutai

Shanzusi Temple at Mount Wutai is a cultural heritage site protected by Wutai County.

Shanzusi Temple at Mount Wutai is located approximately 100 meters southwest of Xigou Natural Village, Xinfang Village, Taihuai Town, Wutai County. The temple faces east and measures 56.37 meters from east to west and 60.98 meters from north to south, covering an area of 3,437.44 square meters.

According to inscriptions, it was built in the early years of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty. The existing structures, with the exception of the Mahavira Hall which dates back to the Qing Dynasty, were all newly built. In recent years, an additional courtyard has been constructed north of the temple, housing the Vajra Hall and monks' quarters. The temple follows a two-courtyard layout, with its central axis successively featuring the Heavenly King Hall, Four Saints Hall, Vajra Base, Three Pagodas, and Mahavira Hall. On both sides are auxiliary halls, guest rooms, and monks’ quarters. The Mahavira Hall sits on a stone base that is 12.8 meters wide, 11.7 meters deep, and 0.76 meters high. It consists of three bays in width and four rafters in depth, with a single-eave gable-and-hip roof, a five-rafter front corridor structure, and a flat ceiling with square grids. All the Buddha statues on the altar inside the hall are newly made. In front of the Mahavira Hall stand three covered-bowl Lamaist stupas, which are basically identical in design and all built of stone. The temple also houses three Ming Dynasty steles and one damaged Qing Dynasty stele. In July 1988, it was designated as a county-level cultural heritage site by the People's Government of Wutai County. (From “A Collection of Cultural Relics in Xinzhou”)

Source: Xinzhou Website

Xinfang Village: Located in the core area of the Buddhist holy site Mount Wutai, Xinfang Village administers five villager groups: Xinfang, Hebei, Huochang, Xigou, and Wayao, with a total of 185 households and 593 residents. In recent years, with strong support from civilizational committees at the provincial, municipal, county, and district levels, Xinfang Village has focused on both well-off society construction and cultural development, achieving significant results. According to incomplete statistics, the village’s total economic income in 2007 was 2.71 million yuan, with a per capita net income of 2,411 yuan. The village’s appearance has improved markedly, and the living standards of its residents have risen significantly. Since 1998, Xinfang Village has been honored for ten consecutive years as a … Detailed information about Xinfang Village ++