Datong Xuanzhen Taoist Temple

Datong Xuanzhen Taoist Temple

Datong Xuanzhen Taoist Temple is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Shanxi Province.

Xuanzhen Taoist Temple (Fifth Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: Ming and Qing Dynasties

Address: Zhengdian Street, Urban District, Datong City

According to local historical records, the temple’s platform was first built during the Hongwu era (1368–1398) of the Ming Dynasty. The superstructure was added during the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty and was newly constructed on the former site of the Guangzhi Gate of the Dai Prince’s Palace. The existing Xuanzhen Taoist Temple faces south and measures 25.39 meters from east to west and 15.76 meters from north to south. It is built upon the brick archway foundation of the former Guangzhi Gate.

On the northern side of the platform, there is a brick-carved lintel above the gate opening, measuring 1.98 meters in width and 1.18 meters in height, inscribed with the three characters “广智门” (Guangzhi Gate) in relief. The Veritable Records of the Hongwu Emperor states: “The four gates of the prince’s city are named as follows: the eastern gate is called Tiren (Benevolence), the western gate is called Zunyi (Respect for Righteousness), the southern gate is called Duanli (Upright Ceremony), and the northern gate is called Guangzhi (Broad Wisdom)”; this matches extremely well with the diagram of the Guangzhi Gate in the “Datong Prefecture Annals” from the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty. The existing platform is likely a remnant of early Ming Dynasty architecture. The main hall is five bays wide and five rafters deep, with a roof truss system featuring a single-step beam in the front paired with a five-rafter beam in the back, using three columns along the full length of the eaves. The front bay is an open corridor, while the roof is a combination of a front flush-gable and rear hanging-gable style, covered with barrel-tile roofing. The eastern side hall is three bays wide and three rafters deep, with a single-slope hard gable roof covered with barrel tiles.

The platform of Xuanzhen Taoist Temple is a remnant of the Ming Dynasty, with a history of over 600 years. The main hall above it is a Qing Dynasty structure. The Guangzhi Gate of the Dai Prince’s Palace exhibits distinct regional characteristics and serves as a testament to the historical development of the ancient city, possessing extremely high historical value.

In 2016, Datong Xuanzhen Taoist Temple was included in the Fifth Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Protected Sites in Shanxi Province.

Source: Shanxi Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Protected Sites in Shanxi Province