Main Hall of Nanchan Temple on Mount Wutai

Main Hall of Nanchan Temple on Mount Wutai

The Main Hall of Nanchan Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Main Hall of Nanchan Temple

Main Hall of Nanchan Temple (First Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units)

Era: Tang

Address: Lijiazhuang Village, 22 km southwest of Wutai County Town

The earliest surviving wooden structure from the Tang Dynasty in China. The temple’s founding date is unknown, but it was rebuilt in the third year of the Jianzhong era during Emperor Dezong's reign in the Tang Dynasty (782 AD). According to an inscription preserved under the horizontal beam on the western side of the main hall, reading “Renovated in the third year of the Jianzhong era of the Great Tang, cyclical year Renxu, month of Wushen, on the day of gengwu and time of guwei, by Fahui and others,” this serves as evidence of the reconstruction date. The temple has been repaired during the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The existing main hall is the original Tang construction, while the rest were built in later periods.

The temple faces south and covers a total area of 3,078 square meters. Its main structures include the Mountain Gate, Dragon King Hall, Bodhisattva Hall, and the Great Buddha Hall. The Great Buddha Hall is three bays wide and three bays deep, nearly square in plan, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. A terrace is located in front of the hall, with plank doors installed in the central bay of the front eaves and lattice windows in the side bays. The roof pitch is gentle, and the upturned corners of the columns are pronounced. The columns are connected by lintels, which do not extend beyond the corner posts, and there are no horizontal beams at the top. There are no interior columns; the roof framework is fully exposed, featuring a four-rafter beam system resting on bracket sets. The beam structure is intricate, with brackets supporting the purlins. The dougong (bracket sets) and bracket arms are exquisitely crafted. The space beneath the eaves is bright and open. The hall ceiling is decorated with carved beams and painted rafters. The front eaves’ inner section features a coffered ceiling. The hall houses 17 painted clay sculptures from the Tang Dynasty, including the main image of Sakyamuni seated cross-legged on a lotus throne, along with disciples, bodhisattvas, heavenly kings, and other figures, all arranged on either side. Their facial expressions are serene, postures relaxed, attire simple, and drapery lines smooth. Though repaired in later periods, they still preserve the style of Tang Dynasty sculpture, representing fine examples of Tang statuary in China. The temple also preserves two corner stones, three stone lions, and one small stone pagoda, all finely carved and dating from the Tang Dynasty.

Inside the hall is a large Buddhist altar measuring 8.4 meters in length and 6.3 meters in width, covered with painted clay sculptures from the Tang Dynasty. The main figure is Sakyamuni, seated cross-legged on a Sumeru pedestal with a waist-high base. Other statues include disciples, bodhisattvas, heavenly kings, looking-up children, and figures such as the “Fanman” and “Folin,” totaling 17 figures arranged on both sides. Their faces are full and serene, their expressions natural, their clothing simple, and the drapery lines fluid. Despite repairs in later periods, they retain the style of Tang Dynasty sculptures, making them outstanding works among China’s Tang-era statuary. The temple also preserves two corner stones, three stone lions, and one small stone pagoda, all exquisitely carved and original Tang Dynasty works.

Further Reading:

· Top 50 Ancient Architectural Structures in China

· First Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units