Yanxiang Temple

Yanxiang Temple

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

Yanxiang Temple (Second Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: Song Dynasty

Address: Dugou Village, Ximayu Township, Qingxu County

Also known as Dugou Grottoes. According to the Qingyuan County Annals, the stone cave was carved on October 15 of the third year of Yuanyou in the Song Dynasty (1088). During the Shaosheng era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1094–1098), Ciyun Chan Temple was built outside the cave, forming a cave worship space together with a nearby meditation monastery complex. In the late Qing Dynasty, it was renamed Yanxiang Temple. Since then, it has undergone multiple renovations, including the construction of structures such as the Jade Spring Pavilion, Arhat Hall, Dragon King Temple, and Guanyin Pavilion. The temple is now in ruins, with only five small caves remaining, along with a stele commemorating the renovation of Ciyun Chan Temple in the 21st year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1542).

The grottoes face south and were carved into a 10-meter-long and 5-meter-wide cliff face, consisting of eastern and western caves. The western cave was only roughly carved and left unfinished. The eastern cave, called the Thousand Buddha Cave, measures 5 meters in width, 3 meters in depth, and 3 meters in height. It has a square floor plan with three walls and three niches. The sides of the cave entrance are flanked by square pillars with beveled edges, featuring a lintel and a pointed arch niche canopy. The ceiling is domed, with a central caisson decoration. Each of the three walls features carvings of one Buddha and two bodhisattvas, all wearing monastic robes. The Buddhas are seated in the lotus position with preaching mudras. The bodhisattvas wear floral crowns and beaded necklaces. The statues have delicate facial features and graceful forms, showing strong Song Dynasty stylistic influence. Over 1,200 small Buddha reliefs are carved on the cave walls, connected by scrolling floral patterns. Behind the main hall of the temple’s foundation, there are three additional caves on the cliff face. The sculptures inside have been destroyed, but an inscription in the middle cave reading “Cave opened on October 11 of the third year of Yuanyou, completed on the □ sixth day of the seventh month of the fourth year of Yuanyou” remains clearly visible, providing solid evidence for dating the grottoes.

Mayu Township: Located in the western part of the county, Mayu Township is a semi-mountainous area. Nestled against mountains and facing plains, it boasts beautiful scenery and a long history of grape cultivation. The township covers a total area of 101 square kilometers, governs 33 administrative villages, has a population of 19,271 people across 5,217 households, and includes 12,895.9 mu of arable land. In 1998, it was named the “Hometown of Grapes in China” by the Organizing Committee of the Chinese Special Products Hometown Promotion Campaign.

Mayu Township is located on the eastern side of the northern foothills of the Lüliang Mountains, characterized by a piedmont alluvial fan terrain. Due to the mountain barrier to the north that blocks cold air intrusion, the soil is sandy or gravelly, and vegetation coverage is relatively good... More detailed information about Mayu Township ++

Further Reading:

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