Tai Shan Longquan Temple

Tai Shan Longquan Temple

Tai Shan Longquan Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Tai Shan Longquan Temple

Tai Shan Longquan Temple (Fourth Batch Provincial Protected Site)

Era: Ming and Qing Dynasties

Address: Tai Shan, Fengyu Valley, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City

Tai Shan Longquan Temple is situated on the sunny side of Tai Shan within Fengyu Valley, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City. The temple faces south, stretching 129 meters from north to south and 49 meters from east to west, with a total area of 6,300 square meters. Historical records and inscriptions in the temple indicate that the original construction of Tai Shan Longquan Temple dates back to the Wu Zhou period of the Tang Dynasty (690–705 AD). It was rebuilt in the 24th year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty (1391 AD), renovated in the 7th year of the Wanli reign (1579 AD), and further repaired and expanded during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. In addition to the Ming and Qing architectural structures still standing, the temple also preserves stone inscriptions from the Wu Zhou period, a Buddhist pagoda crypt, and unearthed relics from that time.

Built against the mountain, Tai Shan Longquan Temple features a central axis that includes the Mountain Gate, Middle Gate, Mahavira Hall, Guanyin Pavilion, and Lotus Cave, flanked by a bell tower, drum tower, and east and west wing rooms. On the eastern side of the temple complex lies the site of the Tang Dynasty pagoda foundation and the Dragon God Shrine. Among these, the Mahavira Hall, Guanyin Pavilion, and Lotus Cave are Ming Dynasty structures, while the rest are from the Qing Dynasty. The Mahavira Hall is a two-story building: the lower level is a brick cave, and the upper level is a wooden structure, with five bays in width and three in depth, featuring a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. In front of the hall stands one stone tablet from the Wu Zhou period and eight tablets from the Ming Wanli and Qing Qianlong periods. The Guanyin Pavilion has an octagonal floor plan with a pyramidal roof. At the center of the hall’s main altar sits the Goddess Guanyin, flanked by the Eighteen Arhats, while the four walls are adorned with Ming Dynasty suspended clay sculptures. The Lotus Cave is a stone structure consisting of three bays. The temple’s stupa forest contains ten spirit pagodas, five of which are relatively well-preserved, including two from the Yuan Dynasty and three from the Ming Dynasty. Additionally, there is the tomb of General Li Cunxiao from the Tang Dynasty and several ancient and famous trees.

Tai Shan Longquan Temple boasts a long history, with its current architectural layout remaining largely intact. In particular, the Ming Dynasty suspended clay sculptures preserved in the Guanyin Pavilion and the cultural relics unearthed from the Tang Dynasty crypt are exquisitely crafted, holding significant historical and cultural value.

In May 2013, Tai Shan Longquan Temple was designated as part of the Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units