Zhaituan Sanshen Temple

Zhaituan Sanshen Temple

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

Zhaituan Sanshen Temple (Fifth Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: Qing Dynasty

Address: Zhaituan Village, Huzhuan Town, Guangling County, Datong City

The founding date of Zhaituan Sanshen Temple is unknown. The temple faces south and is situated to the north, with an overall layout consisting of a two-courtyard complex. Along the central axis from south to north are, in sequence: the Mountain Gate, the Heavenly King Hall, and the Main Hall. On the east and west sides of the Heavenly King Hall are side gates; in front of the eastern side gate is the Guan Yu Hall, and in front of the Main Hall are east and west side halls. The extant structures date from the Qing Dynasty, covering a total area of 1,471 square meters. Currently, there is one stone stele, one dragon-carved stele top, and one damaged Buddhist pagoda pillar on the temple grounds.

The Mountain Gate is one bay wide and four rafters deep, with a single-eave flush-gable roof covered with plain tiles, and features a central plank door.

The Heavenly King Hall is three bays wide and four rafters deep, with a five-rafter beam spanning the full depth and using two columns, topped with a single-eave flush-gable roof covered with plain tiles. Both the front and rear eaves feature six-panel lattice doors, four panels each, on the central bays.

The Main Hall is three bays wide and five rafters deep, featuring a single step beam in the front corresponding to a five-rafter beam in the rear, using three columns along the full depth, with the front bay serving as a porch. It has a single-eave flush-gable roof covered with plain tiles. The central bay has four six-panel lattice doors, while the side bays have lattice windows. The eastern wall currently preserves Qing Dynasty murals covering 18.7 square meters.

The Guan Yu Hall is one bay wide and three rafters deep, with a single-eave flush-gable roof covered with plain tiles. The side walls and rear wall are painted with murals depicting stories from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, covering a total area of about 24 square meters.

The east and west side halls are each three bays wide and four rafters deep, with a single step beam in the front corresponding to a three-rafter beam in the rear, using three columns along the full depth, and the front bay serving as a porch. They have a single-eave flush-gable roof covered with plain tiles. The central bays have four six-panel lattice doors, while the side bays have windows.

The temple currently houses one stone stele and one Buddhist pagoda pillar:

Stele inscription: Rebuilt by Wang You?g, Jinshi (presented scholar) and Magistrate of Weixian County, granted one rank higher, in the 12th year of the Yongzheng reign, 1734, in the early summer (1734)

Buddhist Pagoda Pillar: 13th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, 1534, in the Si month

The buildings within Zhaituan Sanshen Temple in Zhaituan Village are all relics from the Qing Dynasty. The Main Hall and the Guan Yu Hall both preserve Qing Dynasty murals, including depictions of stories from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The figures are vividly portrayed, the style is fresh and elegant, the lines are smooth, and the colors are bright.

In 2016, Zhaituan Sanshen Temple was included in the Fifth Batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Protected Sites in Shanxi Province.

Source: Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Huzhuan Town: Located on the western bank of the Hulu River, Huzhuan Town is the political, economic, and cultural center of the county. It is primarily an agricultural town, with concurrent development in industry, trade, commerce, and enterprises. The town covers a land area of 79.1 square kilometers, includes 27 administrative villages and 32 Party branches, has an agricultural population of 28,238 people across 8,406 households, and cultivable land area of 46,601.99 mu, including 26,731.19 mu of irrigated land and 19,870.8 mu of dry land, with 49 equipped motorized deep wells. In 2005, the per capita income was 2,826 yuan. The town has 29 schools, including 27 primary schools and junior high schools... More details about Huzhuan Town++

Further Reading:

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