Luo Hou Temple

Luo Hou Temple

Luo Hou Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Luo Hou Temple is located in Yanglin Village, Taibai Town, Wutai County. Facing south, it stretches 101 meters from east to west and 189 meters from north to south, covering an area of 19,000 square meters. Originally built during the Tang Dynasty and initially named Luofosi, it underwent repairs in the Song Dynasty, and was renovated in the fifth year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1492).

It was also renovated during the Wanli era (1573–1620), and converted into a lamasery (Yellow Temple) during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, hosting resident Mongolian and Tibetan lamas. With the exception of the east and west auxiliary courtyards, which are modern structures, all other existing buildings date back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The temple follows a three-courtyard layout, with the central axis featuring the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Manjushri Hall, the Great Buddha Hall (Mahavira Hall), and the Rear Hall (now the Present Buddha Hall), flanked by bell and drum towers, the Sangharama Hall, the Patriarch Hall, the Vajra Hall, and monk quarters. The Great Buddha Hall (Mahavira Hall) is the main hall of the temple. It stands on a stone base, measuring 15.9 meters wide, 16.3 meters deep, and 1.06 meters high. The hall has three bays in width and eight rafters in depth, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. It features a double-eave front porch. The Buddhist altar inside houses statues of the Three Ages of Buddhas, along with a statue of Tsongkhapa and eight Offering Goddesses in front, all created according to the specifications in the Lamaist “Statue Measurement Scripture.” The temple preserves 255 Ming and Qing dynasty statues, nine Ming and Qing stelae, and three Ming and Qing stone lions. In 1986, it was designated as a Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the People’s Government of Shanxi Province. (From “A Collection of Cultural Relics in Xinzhou”)

In May 2013, Luo Hou Temple was announced as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Yanglin Village: Located in the central area of Mount Wutai, a sacred Buddhist site, Yanglin Village administers four villager groups—Yanglin, Yingfang, Taiping Street, and Jinjiesi—totaling 380 households and over 840 residents. The village has only 20 acres of arable land but boasts 2,648 acres of forested land. Thanks to its geographic advantages, Yanglin Village has consistently focused on tourism as a key economic driver. The village’s total economic income amounts to 5.715 million yuan, of which 3.935 million yuan comes from tourism. The per capita net income is 3,136 yuan. There are 61 Party members in the village, with 25 activists cultivated this year. During the 2005 election for the village Party branch and committee, ... More detailed information about Yanglin Village++

Further Reading:

·Second Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

·Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units