Changle Sanzong Temple

Changle Sanzong Temple

Changle Sanzong Temple is a cultural heritage site protected by Shanxi Province.

Changle Sanzong Temple is located to the west of Changle Village, Houpu Town, Xiangyuan County. It faces south with a width of 30 meters from east to west and a length of 35 meters from north to south, covering an area of approximately 1,050 square meters. The year of its establishment is unknown. The existing main hall is a remnant structure from the Yuan Dynasty, while the rest of the buildings date back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The temple has a single-courtyard layout, with structures along the central axis from south to north including the mountain gate (a reverse-facing opera tower), the main hall, flanked on both sides by five-bay east and west corridor rooms, three-bay east and west side halls, and three-bay east and west wing halls. The main hall is three bays wide and four rafters deep, with a hanging hip roof, and features single-lowered-curve bracket sets in the dougong (bracketing) system. The front eaves wall doors and windows of the main hall were added in modern times.

The deity worshipped at Sanzong Temple is Houyi. According to mythology, during the time of Emperor Yao, ten suns appeared in the sky at once, scorching the land, burning plants, and bringing harm from ferocious beasts and giant snakes. Houyi shot down nine of the suns with his bow from atop Sanzong Mountain, and also slew the dangerous beasts and snakes, ridding the people of their plight. He was also able to control rain clouds to protect the people from drought, granting their wishes. Changle Village is said to be the setting of the legend of Houyi shooting the suns, hence the local people's reverence led them to construct the Sanzong Temple in his honor. The myth of "Houyi Shooting the Suns" has been submitted as part of Xiangyuan County’s application for national intangible cultural heritage status.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected by Shanxi Province