Temple of the Law and Pitch Gods

Temple of the Law and Pitch Gods

The Temple of the Law and Pitch Gods is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Temple of the Law and Pitch Gods is located on a solitary rock to the east of Shenxi Village, Yong’an Town, approximately 2.5 kilometers north of Hunyuan County. Historical records indicate that the temple was first built during the Northern Wei Dynasty and underwent multiple restorations in later dynasties. It faces south, measuring 37.5 meters from north to south and 30.4 meters from east to west, covering an area of 976.5 square meters. Existing structures include the main hall, the mountain gate, a Five Dragons screen wall, and the bell and drum towers. Based on its current condition, the main hall is believed to date back to the Yuan Dynasty, while the other buildings were constructed in later periods.

The main hall features a three-bay width and a six-rafter depth, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof covered in tubular and flat tiles. Its total floor area is 129.6 square meters. The eaves are adorned with brackets, forming a complex bracket set system both above and below the beams. The rafters above the front eave are arranged in a curved pattern, while those on the rear eave are straight. The wooden columns inside the hall use a through-tenon joint technique, without any separate bases; the column bases are directly connected to the stone pedestals. At the corners of the hall, the corner braces are particularly eye-catching, displaying dynamic curves. The hall’s ceiling is covered with caisson ceilings, and remnants of colored paintings can be seen on some surfaces. The upper part of the hall's walls preserves murals, which are now protected by glass frames. The floor is paved with bluestone slabs, and there are traces of ancient repairs in certain areas. The brackets and beam ends are decorated with carved patterns. The lower bracket arms incline outward at about 45 degrees, while the upper ones do as well.

The architectural layout of the Temple of the Law and Pitch Gods is relatively intact, and the main hall largely retains the characteristics of Yuan Dynasty architecture. In particular, the murals inside the hall are extremely precious and hold significant historical value.

In May 2013, the Temple of the Law and Pitch Gods was designated as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Shenxi Village: Shenxi Village…… More detailed information about Shenxi Village++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units