Liansigou Taishan Temple

Liansigou Taishan Temple

Liansigou Taishan Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Shanxi Province.

Liansigou Taishan Temple

Era: Qing Dynasty

Address: Liansigou Village, Zhuangmo Town, Xinfu District, Xinzhou City

The Taishan Temple’s founding date is unknown; the existing structures date to the Qing Dynasty. The temple is situated on an earthen mound, higher in the north and lower in the south. Built along the terrain and facing south, it stretches 95 meters from north to south and 40 meters from east to west, covering an area of 3,800 square meters. The central axis features, in sequence, a stage, the mountain gate, a passageway hall, and the main hall. On the east and west sides are side rooms, side halls, and an eastern side hall; the western side hall has been destroyed. Outside the mountain gate is a reverse-facing stage, which is a well-preserved ancient theater in Xinzhou City with high historical and artistic value.

The stage is three bays wide and four rafters deep, with a single-eave, hanging gable, and board-tile roof. At the front is a three-bay wraparound porch, also four rafters deep, with a single-eave, hip-and-gable, rolled shed roof. The ridge bears an ink inscription: “Constructed on the tenth day of the third lunar month in the second year of the Xianfeng reign (1852), during a propitious time.”

The mountain gate is built on a raised platform, three bays wide and three rafters deep, with a single-eave, hanging gable, and board-tile roof. The central bay features a one-bay wraparound porch at the front eaves, also with a single-eave, hanging gable, and board-tile roof. The ridge bears an ink inscription: “Constructed on the twenty-seventh day of the third lunar month in the second year of the Xianfeng reign (1852), during a propitious time.”

The passageway hall is three bays wide and three rafters deep, with a single-step beam at the front and a three-rafter beam at the rear, spanning the full width with three columns. The front bay is an open corridor, with a single-eave, hanging gable, and board-tile roof. Original decorative elements on the front and rear eaves are no longer present, only the door frames remain. The current front eaves’ central and side bays feature doors installed later, mounted between the front eaves columns. The front eaves column-top bracket sets are arranged in a single set per bay. The rear eaves column-top bracket sets are arranged in a single set per bay. The beam inscription reads: “Constructed on the twentieth day of the third lunar month in the second year of the Xianfeng reign (1852), during a propitious time.”

The main hall is three bays wide and five rafters deep, with a single-step beam at the front and a five-rafter beam at the rear, spanning the full width with three columns. The front bay is an open corridor, with a single-eave, hanging gable, and board-tile roof. The front eaves column-top bracket sets are arranged in a single set per bay. The rear eaves column-top bracket sets are arranged in a single set per bay. The beams are mostly original. The hall features four-panel doors in the central bays and straight lattice windows in the side bays. The ridge bears an ink inscription: “The twentieth year of the Qianlong reign (1755), during the fifth lunar month.”

There are five inscribed stelae in the temple courtyard. Two of them are donation stelae without dates, and another was repurposed as the threshold stone of the main hall, with illegible inscriptions. The remaining two stelae are inscribed: “Record of the Renovation of Taishan Temple,” from the 25th year of the Jiaqing reign (1820).

Stele inscription: “Record of the Holy Emperor Temple,” from the 29th year of the Wanli reign (1601).

The Taishan Temple is built along the mountain slope, gradually ascending from south to north. The overall architecture is relatively well-preserved, and the original environment has not changed significantly. The ridges of the existing buildings all bear inscriptions that clearly record their construction dates. The two surviving stone stelae preserve the historical records of the temple’s renovations. The wooden structures, such as the beams, are largely in their original state. The surviving mortise patterns in the passageway hall provide valuable clues for studying its original layout, giving the site high historical value. In particular, the stage features exquisitely carved brackets, beams, and painted ceilings at the front eaves, wraparound porch, and side rooms. These decorations exhibit the refined aesthetics of traditional Chinese architecture and hold significant historical and artistic value. Source: Xinzhou Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics

Liansigou Village: Overview Located in a hilly and mountainous region, 27 kilometers southwest of Xinzhou, Liansigou Village lies in a valley. Originally connected to Sanguard Temple, it thus got its name, meaning “Connected Temple Valley.” The village currently has 171 hectares of arable land, 206 households, and 560 residents, with agriculture as the main economic activity. Apples and walnuts are the local specialties.

… More detailed information about Liansigou Village ++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Shanxi Province