Residence of Prince Rencheng, a Lay Buddhist

Residence of Prince Rencheng, a Lay Buddhist

The Residence of Prince Rencheng, a Lay Buddhist, is a cultural relic protection unit of Dingxiang County.

The Residence of Prince Rencheng, a Lay Buddhist, is located about 1,000 meters west of Yaotou Village, Nanwang Township, Dingxiang County. It covers an area of approximately 35.34 square meters. According to the Wanli-era (Ming Dynasty) *Dingxiang County Annals*, “The residence of Prince Rencheng was built on the southeastern mountain, where a worn ancient stele was found, inscribed roughly as follows: ‘Residence of Prince Rencheng, a Lay Buddhist, built in the fourth year of the Wuding era of the Wei Dynasty (546).’ According to Ouyang Xiu’s *Collected Records Postscripts*, there were several members of the Wei imperial family who were granted the title of Prince of Rencheng... It is noted that Wuding was the reign title of Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei, and the person who inherited the title (of Prince of Rencheng) at that time was Tuoba Du.” It also states: “The brothers Wang Wei and Wang Bo of the Tang Dynasty once studied here.” The structure consists of three cave-like rooms built of stone, measuring 11.4 meters in width and 3.1 meters in depth, with a flat roof. The doors and windows have been renovated, but the main structure retains the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 2004, it was repaired through funds raised by local residents. In 2003, it was designated as a county-level cultural relic protection unit by the Dingxiang County People's Government. Content excerpted from *A Collection of Cultural Relics in Xinzhou*.

Source: Xinzhou Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics

Yaotou Village: Yaotou Village (under the jurisdiction of Nanwang Township, Dingxiang County, Shanxi Province). Located in the southern mountainous area of Nanwang Township, about 15 kilometers from the county seat, Yaotou Village has 56 farming households, a population of 89, 25 laborers, and 7 Party members. The village has 605 acres of arable land and 655 acres of reclaimed forestland. The local economy is primarily based on agriculture and animal husbandry. The village features several notable scenic spots, including the Scholar’s Mountain (where Wang Wei studied), the Old Pine Platform Kuixing Pavilion, cliff inscriptions, and various natural mountain landscapes, all of which are excellent tourism resources.

… Detailed information about Yaotou Village ++