Mingxiu Temple

Mingxiu Temple

Mingxiu Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Mingxiu Temple (Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units)

Era: Ming to Qing

Address: Wangguo Village, Jinci Town, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City

Originally built during the Han Dynasty, it was destroyed in war and rebuilt in the 21st year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1541). The temple faces east and has a westward orientation. Existing structures include the front hall, side halls, and the main hall, covering a total area of 1,144 square meters. The main hall is five bays wide and three bays deep, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof, blue-glazed tile trimming, and five-curved bracket sets. The hall enshrines 3 Buddha statues. The side walls and rear wall of the main hall feature Buddhist story murals covering over 80 square meters.

Exquisite "Three Ages of Buddha" Color Sculptures and Mural Art – Mingxiu Temple

National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. Located south of the Jinci Temple and west of Wangguo Village, about 3 kilometers from the new urban area of Jinyuan. According to the “Record of the Reconstruction of Mingxiu Temple” erected in the 48th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1783): “Mingxiu Temple was first built in the Han Dynasty and has undergone multiple reconstructions throughout history.” The existing temple complex consists of a two-courtyard layout. The temple enshrines the “Three Ages of Buddha,” representing the past, present, and future, backed by a golden dragon coiled around a colorful halo of light. The sculptures and murals are of extremely high value. Not far from the temple lies the Tailai Temple, a site for the Zhang clan of China to trace their roots and worship ancestors.

The temple faces east and has a three-courtyard layout, covering an area of 1,144 square meters. Existing structures include the front hall, side halls, and the main hall. The front hall houses clay sculptures of the Laughing Buddha and two children, crafted in the Qing Dynasty style. The main hall is five bays wide and three bays deep, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof, blue-glazed tile trimming, and five-curved bracket sets. Inside the main hall are gilded Three Ages of Buddha statues, accompanied by wooden and clay-carved halos, as well as attendant and guardian warrior statues. The rear wall and side walls are painted with over 80 square meters of thousand-Buddha images and Buddhist story murals. The overall architecture, color sculptures, and murals are all in the Ming Dynasty style, dating back approximately 500 years. These clay sculptures are finely crafted, vibrantly colored, and hold significant historical and artistic value. Sadly, Mingxiu Temple has suffered repeated thefts. In April 2000, the head of the Sakyamuni Buddha statue and the heads of three attendant statues were stolen. In November 2001, the head of a Maitreya Buddha statue was stolen.

In May 2006, Mingxiu Temple, as an ancient architectural structure from the Ming to Qing periods, was approved by the State Council to be included in the Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Wangguo Village: The village has a population of 5,321, with 2,945 mu of arable land. Its primary industry is agriculture. The village has a complete two-committee leadership structure: Party Branch Secretary Bai Jian, Village Committee Director Wang Shunsheng, 9 Party branch members, 2 Village committee members, 88 Party members, and 89 villager representatives.

… More detailed information about Wangguo Village ++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units