Jinci Temple
About Jinci Temple
Jinci Temple , an ancient ancestral temple, was founded about 1400 years ago and was expanded during the Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, resulting in a variety of architectural styles. Today it comprises of over 100 halls, towers, pavilions, terraces, and bridges and includes some of the best Song Dynasty sculptures and buildings still extant in China as well as some lovely landscapes and ancient trees.
Conveniently located on the outskirts of Taiyuan, Shanxi’s capital and largest city, Jinci Temple sits at the base of Xuanweng Mountain at the Jin Springs, source of the Jin River. The ancient State of Jin (11th – 4th centuries BC) got its name from this river, and Jin became the ancient name for Shanxi Province. (In fact, the license plates of all cars from Shanxi today carry the character Jin to identify them as coming from Shanxi .)
It seems that this location has been a sacred place since the Bronze Age, when a goddess of the Jin Springs was worshipped here. The temple was built to commemorate Tang Shuyu, brother of King Cheng, during the Western Chou Dynasty (11th century – 711 BC). King Cheng made his brother a duke and gave him responsibility for one of his states. Tang Shuyu was viewed as a wise and caring duke, and this memorial temple—originally called the Tang Shuyu Memorial Hall—was built in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 – 534) to commemorate him. Later, in the Song Dynasty, the ancient goddess was reinterpreted to be the mother of Tang Shuyu and given the title of Holy Mother; the most famous building in the compound is devoted to her.
After entering the main gate from the south, visitors first come upon an open space which used to be used as an opera theater, with a Ming Dynasty stage (Water Mirror Platform) at the center. After passing over the Huixian Bridge (“Bridge of the Meeting with the Immortals”), you will come to the Terrace of the Iron Men. In the four corners of this terrace stand four iron statues dating back to the 11th century and one of the highlights of Jinci. These fierce-looking life-size warriors were placed here as guardians of the river, and the inscriptions on their chests record their dates of construction. The one in the southwest corner is particular noteworthy; he was cast in 1097 and yet is in excellent shape despite being over 900 years old. Three of these iron warriors are originals; the fourth was built in 1913 as a replacement.
Beyond this is the Hall of Offerings (Xian Hall), which was built in 1168 during the Jin Dynasty. A fairly small structure, the Hall of Offerings was built to display sacrificial offerings to the Holy Mother. The hall was rebuilt in 1955 to the original design and with the same types of materials.
Continuing in a northerly direction, the next attraction is the Flying Bridge Across the Fish Pond (“Yuzhao Feiliang”). Sitting between the Hall of Offerings and the Hall of the Holy Mother, this cross-shaped bridge dates from the Song Dynasty and is the only surviving cross-shaped bridge in China . Originally built in wood over 1000 years ago, the top of the bridge was renovated in stone in 1953, although one can still see some of the old wood pieces by glancing beneath the bridge.
Immediately on the other side of this unique bridge is the Hall of the Holy Mother, the most famous structure at Jinci, located at the back of the complex. With carved wooden dragons coiled around the eight pillars that support its upward-curving double-eave roof, this impressive structure is one of the largest buildings remaining from the Song Dynasty and is one of the oldest wooden halls in China. Completed in 1032, this hall has been restored a number of times, but always to the original design. Inside is Yijiang, Tang Shuyu’s mother, seated calmly and surrounded by 42 servants, eunuchs, actresses, and handmaidens. The 33 handmaidens are particularly noteworthy. Some are responsible for combing, cleaning, sweeping, and serving meals, but all are exquisitely crafted, and these beautiful painted clay figures tell modern scholars much about court customs and dress in the Song Dynasty. Each of these delicate attendants has a different expression, and it is said that one of the handmaidens has four different expressions when viewed from four different angles. Outside are two four-meter tall guards; the one on the right is over 900 years old while the one on the left was replaced in 1950.
There are numerous other structures at Jinci, and one can easily spend half a day visiting the many sights at this fascinating temple. Particularly worth seeing is the 700-year old Shuyu Temple building on the north side of the complex which features more carved clay handmaidens—these carrying musical instruments—also over 700 years old.
Also worth noting are the grounds at Jinci, which are considered by historians to be a rare large-scale classical garden. The Never-Aging Spring flows into the temple grounds, much as it has for thousands of years. There are also several trees in the temple grounds which are over 1000 years old, including a 1400-year old acacia tree and a 3000-year old cypress dating from the Zhou Dynasty (1066 – 221 BC). This Zhou Cypress was struck by an earthquake in the Song Dynasty and leans heavily to one side, propped up by a cooperative neighboring tree.
Immediately adjacent to the Jinci Temple is the Wang Family Hall. This hall claims to be the home of the Wang Clan globally. The building was first built in 1532, during the Ming Dynasty, as a private villa for Wang Qiong, a high ranking official. Later it was renamed the Jinxi Academy and it became a place which taught literature and martial arts. In the 1990s the building was renovated and the Wang Ziqiao Memorial Hall was established to honor a prince from the Zhou Dynasty.
Conveniently located on the outskirts of Taiyuan, Shanxi’s capital and largest city, Jinci Temple sits at the base of Xuanweng Mountain at the Jin Springs, source of the Jin River. The ancient State of Jin (11th – 4th centuries BC) got its name from this river, and Jin became the ancient name for Shanxi Province. (In fact, the license plates of all cars from Shanxi today carry the character Jin to identify them as coming from Shanxi .)
It seems that this location has been a sacred place since the Bronze Age, when a goddess of the Jin Springs was worshipped here. The temple was built to commemorate Tang Shuyu, brother of King Cheng, during the Western Chou Dynasty (11th century – 711 BC). King Cheng made his brother a duke and gave him responsibility for one of his states. Tang Shuyu was viewed as a wise and caring duke, and this memorial temple—originally called the Tang Shuyu Memorial Hall—was built in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 – 534) to commemorate him. Later, in the Song Dynasty, the ancient goddess was reinterpreted to be the mother of Tang Shuyu and given the title of Holy Mother; the most famous building in the compound is devoted to her.
After entering the main gate from the south, visitors first come upon an open space which used to be used as an opera theater, with a Ming Dynasty stage (Water Mirror Platform) at the center. After passing over the Huixian Bridge (“Bridge of the Meeting with the Immortals”), you will come to the Terrace of the Iron Men. In the four corners of this terrace stand four iron statues dating back to the 11th century and one of the highlights of Jinci. These fierce-looking life-size warriors were placed here as guardians of the river, and the inscriptions on their chests record their dates of construction. The one in the southwest corner is particular noteworthy; he was cast in 1097 and yet is in excellent shape despite being over 900 years old. Three of these iron warriors are originals; the fourth was built in 1913 as a replacement.
Beyond this is the Hall of Offerings (Xian Hall), which was built in 1168 during the Jin Dynasty. A fairly small structure, the Hall of Offerings was built to display sacrificial offerings to the Holy Mother. The hall was rebuilt in 1955 to the original design and with the same types of materials.
Continuing in a northerly direction, the next attraction is the Flying Bridge Across the Fish Pond (“Yuzhao Feiliang”). Sitting between the Hall of Offerings and the Hall of the Holy Mother, this cross-shaped bridge dates from the Song Dynasty and is the only surviving cross-shaped bridge in China . Originally built in wood over 1000 years ago, the top of the bridge was renovated in stone in 1953, although one can still see some of the old wood pieces by glancing beneath the bridge.
Immediately on the other side of this unique bridge is the Hall of the Holy Mother, the most famous structure at Jinci, located at the back of the complex. With carved wooden dragons coiled around the eight pillars that support its upward-curving double-eave roof, this impressive structure is one of the largest buildings remaining from the Song Dynasty and is one of the oldest wooden halls in China. Completed in 1032, this hall has been restored a number of times, but always to the original design. Inside is Yijiang, Tang Shuyu’s mother, seated calmly and surrounded by 42 servants, eunuchs, actresses, and handmaidens. The 33 handmaidens are particularly noteworthy. Some are responsible for combing, cleaning, sweeping, and serving meals, but all are exquisitely crafted, and these beautiful painted clay figures tell modern scholars much about court customs and dress in the Song Dynasty. Each of these delicate attendants has a different expression, and it is said that one of the handmaidens has four different expressions when viewed from four different angles. Outside are two four-meter tall guards; the one on the right is over 900 years old while the one on the left was replaced in 1950.
There are numerous other structures at Jinci, and one can easily spend half a day visiting the many sights at this fascinating temple. Particularly worth seeing is the 700-year old Shuyu Temple building on the north side of the complex which features more carved clay handmaidens—these carrying musical instruments—also over 700 years old.
Also worth noting are the grounds at Jinci, which are considered by historians to be a rare large-scale classical garden. The Never-Aging Spring flows into the temple grounds, much as it has for thousands of years. There are also several trees in the temple grounds which are over 1000 years old, including a 1400-year old acacia tree and a 3000-year old cypress dating from the Zhou Dynasty (1066 – 221 BC). This Zhou Cypress was struck by an earthquake in the Song Dynasty and leans heavily to one side, propped up by a cooperative neighboring tree.
Immediately adjacent to the Jinci Temple is the Wang Family Hall. This hall claims to be the home of the Wang Clan globally. The building was first built in 1532, during the Ming Dynasty, as a private villa for Wang Qiong, a high ranking official. Later it was renamed the Jinxi Academy and it became a place which taught literature and martial arts. In the 1990s the building was renovated and the Wang Ziqiao Memorial Hall was established to honor a prince from the Zhou Dynasty.
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Getting there:
Jinci Temple is 25 km to the southwest of central Taiyuan, Shanxi’s capital city. It can be reached in about 20 minutes by car or by several buses.
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First To Review:
Nov 2, 2009
This is a fantastic ancient temple containing some of the best Song Synasty sculptures and buildings in all of China. It is located just outside of Taiyuan, the capital and largest city in Shanxi Province in central China.
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