Longwang Temple in Xinzhai Village

Longwang Temple in Xinzhai Village

Longwang Temple in Xinzhai Village is a cultural heritage site protected by Shanxi Province.

Longwang Temple in Xinzhai Village (Fifth Batch of Provincial Protected Sites)

Era: Qing Dynasty

Address: Xinzhai Village, Kouquan Township, Yungang District, Datong City

The Longwang Temple in Xinzhai Village faces south overall, measuring 50.5 meters from north to south and 28 meters from east to west, covering an area of 513 square meters. The original layout had two courtyards, but the front courtyard has been destroyed, leaving only the rear courtyard. Currently, there are five surviving buildings. Along the central axis from south to north are the rear-stage theater stage and the main hall, with east and west side halls flanking the main hall. The east side hall has been destroyed. On the east and west sides of the rear-stage theater stage, there is one side gate each. The exact founding date of the Longwang Temple is unknown. In 1989, the main hall and theater stage underwent repairs. All current structures date back to the Qing Dynasty.

The main hall is three bays wide and five rafters deep, featuring a single-step beam in the front paired with a five-rafter beam in the back, using three columns along the full eave length. The front bay serves as a porch, with a single-eave hanging mountain-style roof covered with tubular tile. In front, there is a three-bay front porch, four rafters deep, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with rolled eaves. The central and side bays of the main hall each have four six-panel lattice windows. The front terrace of the main hall features an auspicious step pattern, with a pair of stone flagpoles on either side, made of bluestone and finely carved.

The rear-stage theater stage is five bays wide, with the front section four rafters deep and the rear section two rafters deep. It uses a four-rafter beam in the front and a double-step beam in the back, with three columns along the full eave length. The front has a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with rolled eaves, covered with tubular tile, while the rear has a single-eave gable-and-hip roof with tubular tile. The gable ends on the east and west sides feature brick carvings of floral and auspicious patterns on the exterior, with circular windows below. The front eaves of the gable walls are equipped with brick-carved screen walls with "Fu" (blessing) characters in relief in the center.

The west side hall is three bays wide and four rafters deep, with a single-eave gable-and-hip roof covered with tubular tile.

The east and west side gates are each one bay wide, with a single-eave hanging mountain-style roof covered with tubular tile. The upper part of the wooden door features brick carvings imitating wooden architectural elements, including brick-carved architraves, bracket sets, rafters, and carved patterns. The designs are well-preserved and relatively intact.

The architectural feature of the main hall’s central bay, where the front eave extends with a hip-and-gable roofed front porch, is characteristic of contemporary buildings in the region. The theater stage is built in a connected style, showcasing the evolution of local folk architectural structural techniques during this historical period. The temple’s overall architecture is well-preserved, providing valuable physical material for the study of Qing Dynasty architecture in the area.

In 2016, the Longwang Temple in Xinzhai Village was listed as part of the Fifth Batch of Cultural Heritage Protected Sites in Shanxi Province.

Source: Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

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

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Protected Sites