Qinxian Puzhao Temple

　　A key cultural relic protection unit in Shanxi Province. It is located east of Kaicun Village in Guocun Town, 8 kilometers west of Qinxian County. The temple is nestled against mountains and beside water, shaded by forests, offering a broad view and beautiful scenery. According to the Hangzhou Annals from the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty, the temple was originally built in the 12th year of the Taihe era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (488), underwent major repairs during the Yuanhe era of the Tang Dynasty (806–820), was rebuilt in the Dading era of the Jin Dynasty (1161–1189), and had additions and renovations during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1573–1620), the Shunzhi era (1644–1661) and the Yongzheng era (1723–1735) of the Qing Dynasty.

　　The temple faces south and originally had a westward-facing courtyard complex. Along the central axis were the Heavenly King Hall (South Hall), the Grand Buddha Hall (Middle Hall), and the Guanyin Hall (Rear Hall), flanked by side halls, wing rooms, and the Jieyi Hall among other structures. There were also a square Thousand Buddha Stele and numerous stone carvings including large stone Buddha statues. It was one of the Buddhist temples in the Shangdang region known for its grand architecture. In the early days of the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Japanese invaders bombed the South Hall, the Rear Hall, and their auxiliary buildings. Today, only the Grand Buddha Hall (Middle Hall) and some stone carvings remain.

　　The Grand Buddha Hall is built on a high platform, spanning three bays in width and depth, with a six-rafter roof and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. The eaves are supported by four pillars, with gently curved column tops and noticeably raised columns. The bracket sets on the column tops are five-purlin, single-tiered with a single ang, featuring double layers of brackets with a centered heart-mold, and the ang are shaped like bamboo slices. The central bay features a single intercolumnar bracket set, five-purlin with double ang; the corner bracket sets on the front eaves are five-purlin with single-tiered single ang, with the ang styled like harps, and the outer eaves’ raking pieces extend as single materials shaped like ang. The bracket sets are robust and made of thick timber, conforming to the timberwork standards of the Song Dynasty’s Yingzao Fashi. Inside the hall, two rear golden pillars are installed, square with eight angles and beveled edges, creating a spacious interior.

　　The beam frame consists of four purlins, … arranged above the eaves purlins, … with a cantilevered bracket system, creating a simple and well-spaced structure. The bracket arms are thick and sturdy, with a design that is both rational and stable. The roof is steeply pitched and imposing. The colored paintings are exquisitely executed, featuring dragons, lotuses, geometric patterns, and floral designs. The beams and brackets retain traces of both early and later periods, combining ancient charm with later craftsmanship. The surviving painting fragments on the beams and bracket arms are relatively intact and exhibit the decorative style of the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty. The architectural components still reflect the structural style and carpentry techniques of the late Tang and early Song periods. Some painted decorations on the beams from the Ming Dynasty are also relatively complete. It is considered to possess both the architectural characteristics of the transitional period from the Tang to the Song and the unique traits of northern Shanxi folk architecture. It retains many precious physical materials related to ancient architecture and religious art.

　　Contact number: 0356-7098357

　　Address: Within the campus of Kaicun Primary School, 8 kilometers west of Qinxian County, in Guocun Town.

　　Transportation: Take a long-distance bus from Changzhi to Qinxian, then take a taxi from Qinxian’s long-distance bus station.

　　Related service facilities at the scenic area: The school has a free parking lot; it is only 1 kilometer from the county town, and fuel can be obtained at gas stations there; Qinxian County has a People's Hospital and a Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital; banks in the county include Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and Agricultural Bank of China.