Zengcheng Wanshou Temple

Zengcheng Wanshou Temple

Zengcheng Wanshou Temple is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Guangdong Province.

Zengcheng Wanshou Temple is located at the southern foot of Fenghuang Mountain in Licheng Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou. The Buddha hall was first constructed in the first year of the Jiari era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1237), destroyed during warfare in the late Yuan Dynasty, and rebuilt in the 18th year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1385). It was renovated again in the 12th year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1747), the 23rd year of the Jiaqing era (1818), and the 2nd year of the Daoguang era (1822). Over time, the temple’s original layout and buildings were lost, leaving only the main hall.

The main hall is 11.8 meters wide and deep, with three bays each way, featuring a hip-and-gable roof. It has thirteen rafters, a double-step structure with four columns front and back, and slightly raised corner posts. The column tops are fitted with plain beams, which support bracket sets (dougong) of three tiers that hold up the purlins. The beam sets—including the step beam, three-rafter beam, five-rafter beam, and seven-rafter beam—are all crescent-shaped. The brackets and spandrels are simply constructed. The eave and inner columns are spindle-shaped, resting on square granite bases. The original partition screens in the central and side bays have been lost, with lattice windows now installed in the side bays.

The hip-and-gable roof features a central ridge decorated with a dragon boat design made of plaster. In 1991, the roof was covered with yellow glazed tiles, the plaster scrollwork was restored, and the walls of the side bays and gable ends were clad with blue-glazed tiles.

In June 1989, the People's Government of Guangdong Province designated it as a cultural heritage site.

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Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites