Xinzhou Shousheng Temple

Xinzhou Shousheng Temple

Xinzhou Shousheng Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Xinzhou City.

Shousheng Temple is located in Baishi Village, Douluo Town, Xinfu District. It faces south with its back to the north, measuring 32 meters from east to west and 85 meters from north to south, covering an area of 2,720 square meters. The exact date of its establishment is unknown, but it was rebuilt and renovated during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The temple has a two-courtyard layout, with a theatrical stage, the Hall of Heavenly Kings, and the Mahavira Hall aligned along the central axis, flanked by side halls and auxiliary chambers. The Mahavira Hall is three bays wide and four rafters deep, featuring a single-eave hanging hip roof, a five-rafter rear corridor structure, bracket sets with angled struts inclined at 5 degrees on the front eave, and straight struts on the rear eave. The bracket arms are not curved. The front eave bracket sets are relatively simple. The side halls are all three bays wide. The eastern side hall is three bays wide and one bay deep, while the western side hall is also three bays wide and one bay deep. The northern side hall is three bays wide and one bay deep. The front part of the Mahavira Hall is built in the late Ming style, while the rear part is of the Qing dynasty style. The colored paintings on the beams inside the eastern side hall are traditional Ming-style artworks, while those in the western side hall are Qing-style. The brick carvings on the gable walls of the eastern side hall are exquisitely crafted, depicting scenes from the Ming dynasty. On April 10, 1985, the former People's Government of Xinzhou City (a county-level city) designated it as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit. Content excerpted from ("A Collection of Cultural Relics in Xinzhou").

Source: Xinzhou Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics

Baishi Village: Baishi Village is located southwest of Douluo Town, Xinfu District, Shanxi Province, about 4 kilometers from National Highway 108, on the southern bank of the Muma River, and adjacent to the Beijing–Puzhou Railway to the south. It enjoys convenient transportation and abundant local produce. The village has a population of 942, with 282 households and 350 laborers, and encompasses 2,067.8 mu of arable land. The village is laid out in a neat grid pattern with crisscrossing streets, and boasts a simple and honest folk culture with a relatively profound cultural heritage. It is said that the earliest surnames in the village were primarily Bai and Shi, hence the name Baishi (meaning "White Stone"). Currently, the main surnames are Zhao, Xing, and Wang. Based on inscriptions on stone tablets in the village’s ancient temple, it is estimated to have a history of at least 650 years. ... More detailed information about Baishi Village ++