Shahe Stone Buddha Hall

Shahe Stone Buddha Hall

Shahe Stone Buddha Hall, located at Miaozui in Tanyao Gully, 7,500 meters northwest of Shahe Village, Loubanzhai Township, Yuanping City. It faces south, measures 9.6 meters in length from east to west and 6 meters in width from north to south, covering an area of 50 square meters. The year of its initial construction is unknown. According to villagers, historical stone tablets recorded that it was built during the Ming Dynasty and repaired during the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1796–1820). The existing structure features Qing Dynasty architectural style. The hall has three bays, with a stone arched entrance and a domed interior. Each bay features a stone plaque above the door lintel; the central one is inscribed with “Buddha Hall,” the left one reads “Benefiting All People,” and the right one says “Glory Across the Three Kingdoms.” An ancient shrine sits atop the center of the roof. The Buddha statues are no longer present, having been destroyed in the 1970s. (Content excerpted from *A Collection of Cultural Relics in Xinzhou*)

Shahu Village: Also known as Shahe (Huo) Village, it is under the jurisdiction of Loubanzhai Township, Yuanping City, Xinzhou, Shanxi Province. Located in a hilly area at the southwestern edge of Yuanping City, the village enjoys a temperate climate. Nestled at the foot of a wind-sheltered, sun-facing hillside and surrounded by mountains on three sides, it is home to a small stream that flows continuously. The front of the village is relatively open, with interconnected lanes and alleys. During the Ming Dynasty, families surnamed Zhao and Guo migrated here from Beidachang and Nanzhuangtou in Yanzhuang Town, now part of Yuanping City. Originally named Yao Liyuan, the village was later called Shahe as residences gradually shifted northward, taking the name from the large sandy gully in the area. It was renamed Shahu during the Anti-Japanese War. The village has 615 mu of arable land and a total of 117 households... More details about Shahu Village ++