Xinzhou Xingguo Temple

Xinzhou Xingguo Temple

Xingguo Temple in Xinzhou is a cultural relic protection unit of Xinzhou City.

Xingguo Temple is located on Xingsi Street in Xinzhou City. According to inscriptions on tablets: the temple was first built in the sixth year of Wude during the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang (623), originally named Shengguo Temple. In the first year of Shengli of Tang (698), it was decreed to be the Taiping Xingguo Chan Temple, and during the Changxing era of Later Tang (930–933), it was renamed Xingguo Temple. The temple was originally grand in scale. Recently, during the maintenance of the Hall of Heavenly Kings, a wooden board was found on a beam inscribed with: “The Great Tang decreed the Taiping Xingguo Chan Temple in Xinzhou City, surrounded by twelve courtyards. It was rebuilt in the Hongwu era of the Great Ming, the Chenghua era, the Hongzhi era, and again in August of the 26th year of the Jiajing era. Now, in the 11th year of the Tongzhi era of the Great Qing, construction began in April to renovate the Buddha Hall, corridor rooms, and surrounding walls. The Wan Shou Gong front gate, Zhou Zhengtang, and Ji Rong were also renovated.” Such a grand imperial temple was never renovated after the Qing dynasty and, coupled with human destruction—especially the demolition of the temple and statues during the Cultural Revolution—it was almost reduced to ruins. Only the Hall of Heavenly Kings remained. Venerable Master Jichang, president of the Xinzhou District Buddhist Association, witnessing this dilapidated state, resolved to restore the ancient temple. The master raised funds through donations and personal efforts to rebuild halls and sculpt statues. Currently, the Mahavira Hall and the east and west side halls have been constructed.

Opposite the Mahavira Hall is the Hall of Heavenly Kings. The hall is three bays wide and three bays deep, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof, lotus-shaped bracket sets, and yellow glazed tile trimming. Inside the hall, two pillars support the main horizontal beam, a structure known as the “column-reducing method,” which is a remnant of the Tang dynasty architectural style.

Address: Xingsi Street, Xinzhou District, Xinzhou City

Dongjie Village: Dongjie Village is located in the southeastern part of Xinzhou District, Xinzhou City, and is a typical urban village. The village covers an area of 35 square kilometers, with only 200 acres of arable land and a population of 4,300. In 2004, according to national policies and the actual situation of Dongjie Village, aside from about 300 villagers, the remaining 4,000 were all converted to non-agricultural household registration and became urban residents. In 2005, with the approval of the district government, Dongjie Village established the Shengli Community Committee, adopting a management model where the village committee and community committee share one team but operate under two names. The main industry of Dongjie Village is wild... Dongjie Village detailed information++