Anjian Temple

Anjian Temple

Anjian Temple is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Shanxi Province.

Anjian Temple (Fifth Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: Ming and Qing Dynasties

Address: Dongliutuan Village, Jiadou Township, Guangling County, Datong City

The founding date of Anjian Temple is unknown. The existing structures all date back to the Ming Dynasty. The temple faces south and was originally laid out as a two-courtyard complex, though only one courtyard remains today. Along the central axis are, in sequence, a passageway hall and the main hall, with a side hall to the west situated in front of the main hall. The temple covers an area of 970 square meters. Currently, the temple preserves 153 square meters of Qing Dynasty murals, two stone stelae, and two stone tablets.

The passageway hall is three bays wide and five rafters deep. Its front features a single-step beam paired with a rear five-rafter beam, using three columns along the full span of the eaves. The front bay serves as a corridor, topped with a single-eave flush gable roof covered with tubular and flat tiles, with distinctly curled eave ends. The front central bay has a wooden panel door, while the rear central bay has four paneled doors with six panels each, and the side bays each have four paneled windows with four panels. The front side bays and both gable walls feature murals depicting episodes from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, such as "Cao Cao Gives a Horse," "Execution of Wen Chou at White Horse Mountain," "Execution of Yan Liang at the Yellow River Crossing," "Blocking Cao at Yuerong Path," and "Execution of Han Fu at Guyang Pass," covering approximately 35 square meters in total. The west gable wall displays ink paintings of flowers, birds, and trees, covering a total of 3 square meters.

The main hall is three bays wide and four rafters deep. Its front features a four-rafter beam paired with a rear single-step beam, using three columns along the full span of the eaves, topped with a single-eave hanging gable roof covered with tubular and flat tiles. The front central bay has four paneled doors with six panels each, while the side bays have walls. The rear central bay extends outward with a small porch housing two panel doors flanked by paneled windows. The four-rafter beam is painted with colored designs. The surrounding walls, both gable peaks, and the interior of the porch are adorned with murals totaling approximately 81 square meters. The mural on the east gable wall is no longer extant.

The west side hall is one bay wide and two rafters deep, topped with a single-eave flush gable roof covered with tubular and flat tiles, though its fittings are no longer present. The two gable walls and the gable peak are adorned with murals covering approximately 31 square meters.

There are two stone stelae preserved in the temple.

The structures within Anjian Temple in Dongliutuan Village are all remnants from the Ming Dynasty, and the murals inside each hall are well preserved. Among them are Qing Dynasty murals depicting stories from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, such as "Blocking Cao at Yuerong Path" and "Execution of Han Fu at Guyang Pass." These murals feature smooth lines, vivid colors, and lifelike figures. In terms of scale, craftsmanship, and character depiction, they are considered the finest Ming Dynasty murals in the Datong region.

In 2016, Anjian Temple was listed among the Fifth Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Protected Sites in Shanxi Province.

Source: Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Jiadou Township: Located 12 kilometers southeast of Guangling County, Jiadou Township borders Yu County of Hebei Province to the east, neighbors Lingqiu County to the south, connects with Huzhiquan and Yixing to the west, and adjoins Jiaoshan Township to the north. The township administers 15 administrative villages, covering a land area of 139.8 square kilometers with 49,800 mu of arable land, including over 40,000 mu of irrigated land. There are 17 party branches in total, including 14 in rural areas, with 592 party members. The township has one junior high school and 14 primary schools.

Jiadou Township boasts abundant resources and a talented populace, often honored as the "Hometown of Culture" and the "Land of Abundant Grain." It benefits from favorable water conservancy conditions... More details about Jiadou Township ++

Further Reading:

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