Jinci Temple: A National Treasure Steeped in History, Showcasing Three Treasures, Three Wonders, and Three Plaques

Jinci Temple (Jinci Museum), originally known as Jinci Wang Temple and initially named Tang Shuyu Temple, is a temple dedicated to the first marquis of the Jin State in the early Western Zhou Dynasty, Ji Yu. Tang Shuyu, whose surname was Ji and given name was Yu, was the son of King Wu of Zhou, Ji Fa, and his mother Yijiang was the daughter of Jiang Ziya. In the tenth year of King Cheng of Zhou (1033 BC), King Cheng of Zhou enfeoffed the ancient Tang State (now the area around Taiyuan, Shanxi) to his younger brother Shuyu, who thus became the ruler of the Tang State and was called Tang Shuyu. Jinci Temple is a unique architectural complex in China that combines a temple and an ancestral hall, with a history of over 3,000 years. It has been listed by the State Council as one of the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units. The most famous aspects of Jinci Temple are the Three Treasures, Three Wonders, and Three Plaques. The "Three Treasures" include: - Shengmu Hall: This is the main hall of the entire temple, built during the Tian Sheng period of the Northern Song Dynasty. It is the most well-preserved national treasure-level building among the existing Song Dynasty buildings in China. - Fish Pond Flying Bridge: Located in front of Shengmu Hall, it was first built during the Northern Wei Dynasty. It is a cross-shaped stone bridge, known as the "oldest overpass in the world." Liang Sicheng once praised it as a "unique example," meaning it is unparalleled and unprecedented. - Xian Hall: Located east of the Fish Pond Flying Bridge, it is where sacrificial offerings are displayed. It was first built in the eighth year of the Jin Dynasty's Dading period and is a purely wooden structure. The "Three Wonders" include: - Shengmu Statue: Inside Shengmu Hall, there are 43 painted clay sculptures from the Song Dynasty. The main statue is Shengmu Yijiang, and the other 42 are eunuchs, female officials, and maids. These maid statues have different costumes and postures, with high artistic value. - Zhou Cypress: A cypress tree planted during the Western Zhou period, over 3,000 years old, located north of Shengmu Hall. - Nanlao Spring: Also known as the South Sea Eye, it is the first spring of Jinyang, built during the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi Dynasty, with a history of 1,500 years. It is the source of the Jin River, with a continuous flow and a constant water temperature of around 17°C throughout the year. The "Three Plaques" include: - Shuijingtai: This plaque hangs on the main hall of Shuijingtai, written by Yang Eryou, the teacher of Emperor Qianlong. - Duiyue: This plaque is on the Duiyue Archway, inscribed by Gao Yingyuan, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. It means to repay and highlight the merits of the ancestors. - Nanlao Spring: Located in the pavilion of Nanlao Spring, inscribed by the famous calligrapher Fu Shan from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, symbolizing the eternal flow of youth and the source of water. During the peak season, the opening hours are from 08:30 to 18:00, and the ticket price is 80 yuan. Visitors need to take an electric car to the entrance of Jinci Museum (10 yuan for a round trip, and the return ticket must be shown for the return trip). The visit usually takes 2 to 3 hours.