South Jixiang Temple

　　Era: Song to Qing Dynasties

　　Address: Pingchuan Village, Liyi Town, 17 km west of Lingchuan County

　　Originally named Jixiang Monastery. According to the “Inscription and Preface of Jixiang Monastery” stele, it was built by imperial decree during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty. The temple was originally located in Songjiachuan, Pingchuan, and on the third day of the tenth month in the third year of the Chunhua reign (993 AD) during the Song Dynasty, it was granted its official name by imperial edict. In the eighth year of the Tian Sheng reign (1030 AD), it was relocated to its current site. It underwent renovations in the sixth year of the Zhi Yuan reign (1269 AD) and the third year of the Zhi Zhi reign (1323 AD) during the Yuan Dynasty, and saw additions and repairs during both the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

　　The temple faces south and covers an area of 7,081.65 square meters. Its layout is intact, consisting of two courtyards in a front-and-back arrangement, with the Mountain Gate, Passing Hall, and Yuanying Hall aligned along the central axis. On the east and west sides are the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, East and West Side Halls, meditation rooms, and side pavilions. The existing Passing Hall is a remnant of the Song Dynasty, while the rest were built during the Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties.

　　The Passing Hall is three bays wide and six rafters deep, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. At the center of the roof is a glazed square medallion, and the ridge beasts, ridge ornaments, and ridge decorations are all made of glazed pottery. The bracket sets under the eaves are uniformly structured, featuring protruding bracket arms, layered bracket arms, and inclined struts set at a 45-degree angle. The hall’s wooden structure is well-preserved, with clear layering and strong three-dimensionality. The beams and bracket sets are exquisitely crafted, with fine carvings and rich ornamentation. The front and rear eaves are adorned with dense carvings, displaying distinct artistic characteristics. The bracket arms on the front and rear eaves are particularly robust, with large brackets and closely spaced column bases, highlighting a grand and majestic style.

　　The Yuanying Hall was first built in the Jin Dynasty and renovated in the Yuan Dynasty. It is five bays wide and six rafters deep, with a single-eave hanging gable roof. The bracket sets under the eaves are layered bracket arms, featuring protruding bracket arms and overhanging eaves. The hall’s wooden structure is simple yet vigorous.

　　Although the Mountain Gate was modified during the Ming Dynasty, it still retains elements of the Yuan Dynasty style. The Bell and Drum Towers were both built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The temple also preserves one stele each from the Song and Yuan Dynasties.