Tianning Temple Main Hall

　　Tianning Temple was originally called "Dazang Yuan" and was first built during the Dazhong Xiangfu period (1008–1016) of the Northern Song Dynasty. During Emperor Huizong’s Zhenghe era (1111–1118), it was granted the name "Tianning Wanshou Chan Temple." In the eighth year of the Shaoxing era (1138) of the Southern Song Dynasty, to honor Emperor Huizong, it was renamed "Baoying Guang Temple," and later changed to "Baoying Guangxiao." In the fifth year of the Yanyou era (1318) of the Yuan Dynasty, it was rebuilt, preserving some architectural components from the Song Dynasty, and underwent multiple renovations in later dynasties. The Tianning Temple Main Hall retains certain features of ancient Chinese architecture from the transitional period between the Song and Ming Dynasties, making it an important physical example for studying ancient architecture in southern China during this transition.

　　The main hall faces south and sits atop a height, overlooking the Wu River. It is three bays wide, with both the total width and depth measuring 12.72 meters, forming a square layout that well reflects the characteristics of small Buddhist hall designs during the Song and Yuan periods. It features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof and has sixteen pillars. Both the horizontal and vertical layouts are divided into three sections, with the central bay measuring 6.16 meters, maintaining a ratio close to two-to-one with the two side bays. The beam structure is intermediate between a hall and a chamber style, using a post-and-lintel system with an exposed roof frame. The entire construction relies on beams and brackets, using mostly small and delicate timber. This method was rare in early ancient Chinese architecture but is preserved in very few examples in China today, making it highly valuable. The ridge purlins, rafters, and bracket arms are all interlocked. The first southern purlin and the first northern purlin are connected, reducing the use of large timber and facilitating construction. Although this bracketing technique is recorded in southern texts, few actual examples have been discovered in ancient Chinese architecture, making this one particularly significant.

　　In 1988, the Tianning Temple Main Hall was listed by the State Council as a third batch National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit as an ancient building from the Song to Yuan Dynasties.