Visiting the National Protected Temple of the Great King in Yangqu, Taiyuan for the Third Time

In ancient times, Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang three times, and now I visit the Great King’s Temple three times! Because I have been there twice before, but unfortunately the cultural relic protector had something to do at home, so I didn't get in both times. This time I learned my lesson and called one day in advance, and finally I got in. Friends who didn't come, please pay attention, there is an Easter egg in my last picture! The Great King Temples are concentrated in Yun County, Shanxi Province and near Taiyuan. It is said that there were many of them in the past, and currently there are about ten preserved. The Great King refers to Zhao Wu, the orphan in the well-known Orphan of Zhao. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the Zhao family was persecuted and the family doctor Cheng Ying took him to hide in Yunshan, Yangquan. Because of this story, Yunshan was changed to Cangshan, and he was called the God of Cangshan. Cangshan also became the birthplace of the culture of loyalty and righteousness. When Zhao Wu grew up, he became a senior official in the State of Jin. He was very kind to the common people and was revered as the rain god after his death. The people built many temples in the local area to commemorate him and offer sacrifices to him when they prayed for rain. Taiyuan Yangqu Dawang Temple is located in Fanzhuang, Donghuangshui Town. It and Yu County Dawang Temple are both listed as national protected sites. It is just behind the village committee. It is usually closed and visiting depends on fate. Of course, if you are really a fan of ancient buildings, please look at the last picture. Yangqu Dawang Temple faces south and only has a large hall. The curator said that it used to be very large, with bell and drum towers, a stage and various side halls. The most famous one is the Yama Hall at the entrance. The Black and White Impermanence hold iron chains on both sides. There are mechanisms inside. If you don't follow the procedures when opening the door, the iron chain will be put around your neck, which is very scary... Later, the Japanese occupied this place. The Eighth Route Army was afraid that they would build a bunker, so they set a fire. The fire lasted for three days and three nights, leaving only the main hall. The main hall stands on a high stone platform. It is square in shape, three rooms wide, and has a single-eaved hip roof. This specification was already quite high among the people. The Xuanyuan Temple not far away had a single-eaved hip roof. Logically speaking, the status of Emperor Xuanyuan Huangdi was much higher than that of Zhao Wu, a minister of the State of Jin. However, the specifications of Zhao Wu's palace exceeded those of the Xuanyuan Temple. The two ridge beasts on the main ridge are white dragons, and there are four ridge beasts. It seems that they were added later. Because in ancient Chinese buildings, all the small beasts from the ridge beasts to the immortal riding a crane on the outermost eaves are odd numbers. The higher the specifications, the more ridge beasts there are, usually 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. Only the Forbidden City dares to use 10, and they are arranged in patterns such as dragons, phoenixes, lions, pegasus, and seahorses. Pushing open the weathered wooden door, the whole wall is filled with brilliance. The murals left over from the Ming Dynasty are lifelike, with lively and powerful lines and full expressions of characters. They start from the right rear wall where they live and dress, then leave the palace along the east wall, return to the palace along the west wall, and come back to the left rear wall to eat, just like a comic book at the end of the last century, completing a complete narrative story. There is a large piece of text in the middle of the back wall, which should be an inscription of the merits of the craftsmen when the murals were repainted in the Qing Dynasty. The amazing thing is that these murals are covered with gold, and the figures look three-dimensional. How much money must it cost to be willing to cover the murals with gold! This is not the most amazing thing. The most terrible thing is that there is not a single pillar in the hall with a side length of nearly ten meters. A careful observation reveals that the method of reducing pillars was adopted. The pillars were built into the walls, and the top wooden structure was built in three layers. The method of moving pillars was also adopted. The four capitals were suspended in the air in a well shape, which is also called suspended beams and suspended columns. This kind of beamless hall is very rare in itself, and a beamless hall of such a large size is almost the only one in China. The plaque of the main hall has been lost, but the wooden doors and iron chains are originals from the Ming Dynasty. There is a huge character "Fu" engraved on the outer wall. The cultural keeper said that it was done by their teacher. When they were young, they went to school in the building at the entrance of the hall (which was actually part of the Great King Temple). They used the open space in front of the Great King Temple as a playground and would climb up the outer wall of the main hall when they had nothing to do. The teacher made them stand while eating with bowls in their hands, and when he was bored, he engraved the character "Fu" on the wall of the hall. There were originally two stone statues in the hall, but one of them was stolen at some point in time. The other one is now kept in the Buer Temple in Yangqu County. There are two small temples in front of the Great King Temple, both of which are newly built. One is the Dragon King Temple, and the other is called the Main Hall, where the Three Buddhas are enshrined. The cultural custodian said that when a cave was dug for the construction of a highway nearby, three one-meter-high clay statues of small Buddha were dug out and brought to the village for safekeeping. Unexpectedly, they were weathered and only a pile of mud was left. It would be a serious offense to the gods among the people. What should be done? Place this pile of clay sculptures under the lotus seat of the Three Buddhas! Echoing the Great King Temple is the Guanyin Temple on the earth slope south of the village. The old temple has been destroyed and a new one has been built on the original site. Only an old tree in front of the temple watches over the historical changes. The cultural keeper said that the 19th day of the second lunar month is Guanyin's birthday. If you come again, there will be prayers and fairs there. Yangqu Great King Temple is not only a witness to history, but also a cultural heritage, bringing an unforgettable cultural and spiritual journey.