Hexi Wenchang Temple

Hexi Wenchang Temple

Hexi Wenchang Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

There are three Wenchang Temples in Guide, but generally, the term refers specifically to the Hexi Wenchang Temple, known in Tibetan as “Youlakang.” It is located on the eastern slope of the western platform of Xiapai Village, six kilometers west of the county town. The temple sits against the mountainous plateau to the west and borders the Yellow River to the north, with the Warm Spring River meandering northward in front of it. The Wenchang Temple was first built in the late Ming Dynasty (between 1590 and 1600). According to the Continued Draft Chronicles of Guide County compiled by Zhu Jiwu, “Fourteen li west of Guide County Town, there used to be a Wenchang Temple, established during the early Ming Dynasty…” In the sixth year of the Tongzhi reign (1867), the Wenchang Temple was destroyed in a great fire. It was rebuilt with funds raised in the thirteenth year of Tongzhi (1874) and completed in the second year of the Guangxu reign (1876). It suffered damage again in 1958 and was reconstructed in 1982 on the original site, following the original scale.

The Wenchang Temple is a terraced structure built along the mountainside. Stepping onto the first-level platform, you’ll see a three-story memorial archway made of horizontal beams and bracket sets, which serves as the temple’s mountain gate. The archway has three bays — the central one is wider, while the side ones are narrower, reflecting a clear hierarchy. All three bays are fitted with metal gates adorned with steel-wrapped floral patterns, combining aesthetic appeal with a touch of modern architectural style. On both sides of the gate stand stone lions on “I”-shaped cement bases, their eyes fixed intently, while a pair of flagpoles rise proudly in front, exuding the temple’s distinctive solemnity and mystique. Ascending dozens of stone steps to the second platform, you’ll find pavilions built on three sides — the eastern pavilion is the Kuixing Pavilion, housing a statue of the God of Literature; the southern and northern sides are the Bell and Drum Towers respectively. The northern pavilion is the Fire Ancestor Pavilion, with statues of the Fire God, Ox King, and Horse Ancestor enshrined inside. The main southern pavilion is the Goddess Pavilion, featuring statues of the Queen Mother of the West, the Birth Goddess, and the Flower Offering Goddess. At the center of the third-level platform stands the grand Wenchang Hall, which is 10 meters tall, five bays wide, and three bays deep. Its majestic presence highlights its role as the focal point of the temple complex. The hall features a double-eaved, hip-and-gable roof with flying rafters and bracket sets, adorned with gold-lacquered paintings and carvings of dragons and phoenixes. The roof is covered with glazed tiles that shimmer brilliantly in the sunlight. Inside the hall, the painted clay statue of the Wenchang deity sits with an aura of dignity and subtle benevolence, flanked by two attendants known as “Heavenly Deaf” and “Earthly Mute.”

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units