Yongji Qinglong Temple

　　Located 4 kilometers west of Jishan County in Shanxi Province, on the western side of Macun Village. The temple sits on an earthen mound surrounded by vast open land and nestled among date orchards, offering a uniquely charming atmosphere. It was first built in the second year of the Longshuo era of the Tang Dynasty (662 AD), and renamed to its current name the following year. It underwent multiple reconstructions, renovations, and repainting during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Most of the existing structures date back to the Yuan and Ming periods. Covering an area of over 6,000 square meters, the temple complex consists of two courtyards, front and rear, and eight halls of varying sizes. The front courtyard includes the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Arhat Hall, the Kṣitigarbha Hall (now damaged), and the Amitabha Hall facing north. The rear courtyard houses the Mahavira Hall, the Waist Hall, the Rear Hall, and east and west wing rooms. On either side of the Rear Hall are auxiliary chambers dedicated to deities, Skanda, patriarchs, and guardian spirits. Both the Waist Hall and the Rear Hall have three bays each and feature a single-eave gable-and-hip roof. The Waist Hall was renovated in the 26th year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1289 AD), and the Rear Hall in the 11th year of the Zhizheng era (1351 AD). The auxiliary chambers are also Yuan Dynasty relics. The statues in all the halls are no longer extant, but murals remain in the Waist Hall and the Rear Hall, covering approximately 185.13 square meters. The Rear Hall contains six murals, each 2.3 meters high and 1.2 meters wide, primarily depicting Buddhas and bodhisattvas. The eastern wall features the image of Sakyamuni, flanked by disciples Ananda and Kassapa, two bodhisattvas, and guardian deities in the corners. The western wall shows Maitreya Buddha and attendant bodhisattvas, with attendants and donors in the southwest corner. Most of the murals in the Rear Hall were repainted or restored in the 18th year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1385 AD), though a small section in the southwest corner retains an ancient and simple style that preserves the flavor of the Yuan Dynasty. The murals in the Waist Hall span a total height of four meters and width of seven meters, classified as Water and Land Ritual paintings, covering a wide range of themes including Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Despite the numerous figures, they are arranged without clutter and appear vividly lifelike. The east, west, and south walls of the Waist Hall were painted when the hall was built, while the north wall and the fan-shaped wall were added during the Ming Dynasty. The murals in the Waist Hall are considered the most exquisitely executed, with well-proportioned figures, rich colors, smooth lines, and craftsmanship that rivals that of the Yongle Palace murals.