[2025 Jinzhong Attraction] Travel Guide for Jingxin Temple (Updated Apr)

#chinaattractions Taigu Jingxin Temple is located in the southwest of Yangyi Village, Yangyi Township, Taigu District, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province. It was founded in the sixth year of the Tang Kaiyuan era (714 AD) and has been repaired throughout history. Jingxin Temple faces north and south, consisting of two courtyards. A brick wall with the character "Fu" is erected at the mountain gate, and the central axis lines the stage, Pilu Hall, and Tianwang Hall from south to north. On both sides, there are viewing galleries, Baiyi Hall, Huiquan Hall, Bell and Drum Tower, Tianwang Hall, Stele Gallery, Guanyin Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, and Guan Gong Hall. There are 76 colored sculptures and 180 square meters of murals preserved in the temple, which are relics of ancient plastic arts, mainly focusing on Buddhism and folk customs. Together with several important painting and sculpture relics in Jinzhong area such as Pingyao Zhenguo Temple, Shuanglin Temple, and Qingliang Temple, they form the evolutionary sequence of ancient Buddhist statue art in Shanxi. The colored sculptures in Jingxin Temple have a stronger folk belief color and aesthetic taste, and have very important artistic value. The peacock blue glazed stage is incredibly exquisite, with only two in the country. #travel #trip #localguides #familytrip #localguides

In the southwest corner of the backyard of Zishou Temple is the Erlang Hall, also known as the Qingyuan Zhenjun Hall. This hall is dedicated to Erlang Shen, also known as Zhao Yu, accompanied by his attendants and his loyal dog, Xiaotian Quan. Erlang Shen, or Zhao Yu, was honored as Qingyuan Miaodao Zhenjun during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty. Originally a brave warrior under the Jade Emperor in Taoism, he was later incorporated into Buddhism as a guardian deity, reflecting the fusion and respect between religions. Feng Menglong, a renowned writer of the late Ming Dynasty, vividly described the appearance of Erlang Shen in his compilation "Awakening the World": "Dragon eyebrows, phoenix eyes, white teeth, and fresh lips." This description coincides with the image of the deity enshrined in the Erlang Hall of Zishou Temple, showcasing the divine charm. On both sides of the Erlang Hall, a series of mural paintings depict the magnificent scenes before and after Erlang Shen's expedition, each carrying a rich storyline, forming a coherent and vivid historical picture. Despite enduring over seven hundred years of weathering, these murals remain largely intact, showcasing the profound foundation of folk beliefs and ingeniously integrating the essence of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, presenting a unique beauty of cultural fusion. The murals feature smooth lines, distinct layers, and colors that, though slightly mottled by the passage of time, still exude an extraordinary, ethereal, and dynamic artistic charm.

I didn't expect that an ancient temple from the Ming and Qing dynasties hidden deep in Taigu, Shanxi would take me a whole week to sort out and explore it one by one. At that time, I was attracted by the inverted glazed stage in Jingxin Temple, but when I came back and sorted them out one by one, I found that the stage was the first one I overlooked. The colorful sculptures and murals in every hall of the temple attracted me to explore. The difference between Jingxin Temple and most temples deeply attracted me and made me want to find out what was going on. I was also fascinated by the things going on in the last hall, the Main Hall of Jingxin Temple. The Main Hall is almost entirely dedicated to the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. Sakyamuni has a virtue name called "Daxiong", so it is called the Main Hall. Then, judging from the hand gestures, the main seat of Jingxin Temple is Vairocana Buddha, so this hall should be the Vairocana Hall, not the Mahavira Hall. There are water and land murals painted on the east and west gables and the rear eaves wall of the hall. The temple was named after Vairocana Buddha, as the main deity in the temple is Vairocana Buddha. The area of ​​the murals in the Pilu Hall is about 220 square meters. The water and land murals in the Pilu Hall follow the format of the water and land murals of the Ming Dynasty, and are arranged on the east and west gables with four layers of graphic relationships of gods and figures. There are 29 groups (154 figures) on the east wall, 24 groups (147 figures) on the west wall, and 6 figures on the north wall, totaling 307 gods and figures. In terms of composition, the water and land murals in the Pilu Hall are most similar to those in the Lingshi Zishou Temple. There are no large, upright deities placed in the center of the picture. Instead, all the deities in the murals are treated equally, with only variations in size between the main deities and the maids (boys) holding banners. This is a typical composition style of Ming Dynasty folk water and land murals. The water and land murals in the Pilu Hall have an overall simple and detailed composition. The style of the murals is also light in style, showing the Ming and Qing mural styles. Due to the secular expression in shape and color, the picture is rich in content, and it depicts the society at that time in a highly generalized and refined way. It is a water and land temple mural that breaks through conventions and highlights strong folk characteristics.

Guanyin Bodhisattva, Manjusri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva each have a mount: a golden-haired lion, a green lion, and a white elephant. These mounts come from the three disciples of the Tongtian Jiaozhu: Jinguang Xian, Qiushou Xian, and Lingya Xian. In the mythological story "The Investiture of the Gods," the legendary process of subduing these three is recorded in detail. Samantabhadra Zhenren broke the "Two Elements Formation" set up by Lingya Xian, forcing Lingya Xian to reveal his true form, transforming into a mighty white elephant, and was taken as a mount by Samantabhadra Zhenren. This Samantabhadra Zhenren is the predecessor of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. Cihang Daoren broke Jinguang Xian's "Four Elements Formation," causing him to revert to his original form, becoming a golden-haired lion, and was taken as a mount. Cihang Daoren is the Guanyin Bodhisattva known to later generations. Manjusri Guangfa Tianzun broke Qiushou Xian's "Taiji Formation," revealing the original form of the green lion, and was subdued as a mount by Manjusri Guangfa Tianzun. Manjusri Guangfa Tianzun is Manjusri Bodhisattva.

The Niangniang Hall is the highlight of the side halls in the front yard. It is a place for praying for children and blessing children, and is full of the atmosphere of folk beliefs. In the middle of the shrine sits a lady in white, holding a little baby in her arms, with a smile on her face, looking particularly kind. Next to it is a very distinctive double-sided statue of a human being, one side facing the underworld and the other side looking at the human world, as if it can really help people send reincarnated children to the homes of those who are seeking children. There are also statues of wet nurses feeding babies on both sides, which is rarely seen in ancient colored sculptures. The image of them breastfeeding with bare breasts and smiling with teeth showing is really bold. There are two fierce gods on the outermost side, they are the Nine Heavens Birth Supervisors, who can avoid plague and protect children’s health. Jingxin Temple was originally a nunnery, and was later converted into a Buddhist temple, so some goddess statues are still preserved throughout the temple.

Located in Yangyi Village, Yangyi Township, Taigu District, Jinzhong, Shanxi, this ancient temple was built in the 6th year of the Kaiyuan period of the Tang dynasty (714). Its most notable feature is its completeness, making it a model of a complete temple. Each hall of Jingxin Temple has its own highlights. The Land God Hall has large-scale statues of the Garan gods, painted in the Yuan dynasty's meticulous style with bright colors and smooth lines, making them taller than real people. In addition to the Earth God, the Land God Hall also has attendants, a master, and little ghosts. The number of figures is rare among the Land God temples in China, making it a luxurious configuration.

Jingxin Temple has a well-organized layout, and each hall exudes a strong cultural heritage and religious atmosphere. The main hall in the backyard is the Main Hall, and the auxiliary halls are arranged in sequence, including the Fox Fairy Hall, the Earth Hall, the Guanyin Hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall, the Samantabhadra Hall, and the Manjusri Hall. In these halls, any statues that are backlit are decorated with auspicious patterns such as dragons, phoenixes, animals, flowers and plants, which symbolize holiness and auspiciousness. However, the scene inside the Guanyin Hall is different. It is decorated with pavilions and pavilions. This unique feature makes people stop and stare and wonder. What is even more striking is that there seems to be some deviation in the enshrinement of the main throne in Guanyin Hall. According to common sense, Guanyin Bodhisattva should be enshrined in the Guanyin Hall, just like other halls in the entire temple. However, the main figure here is suspected to be Sakyamuni Buddha. This discovery undoubtedly exacerbates people's confusion and confusion. At the same time, there are also ten statues of Bodhisattvas in the hall. There are many theories circulating on the Internet about the identities of these ten Bodhisattvas. However, after careful comparison, they are all inconsistent with the actual statues, which makes the worship situation of the entire Guanyin Hall Even more confusing. We can’t help but wonder, did the temple’s renovation or historical changes lead to deviations in the offerings in the Guanyin Hall for some reason? This deviation is not only reflected in the choice of the main statue, but also involves the uniqueness of the backlight decoration and the interpretation of the identity and symbolic meaning of the ten Bodhisattvas. Regarding these issues, is there anyone who knows enough to share with you? Uncomfortable!

Although the Manjusri Hall in Jingxin Temple is not large, it is full of hidden treasures and unique scenery. The hanging sculptures in the hall are well preserved and are considered the most beautiful hanging sculpture art treasures in Jingxin Temple. In the center of the hall, the main deity, Manjusri Bodhisattva, sits on a lion, while on both sides are a series of Arhat statues with different postures. Some are kind and gentle, some are quiet and contemplative, and some are cute and charming, each with its own characteristics. Looking around, the hanging sculpture elements such as mountains, rivers, trees, auspicious clouds, and flying phoenixes are cleverly arranged to create a wonderful atmosphere like a holy land. In the upper layer of the hanging sculpture, the mountains are stacked, the clouds are swirling, and the pavilions are looming; in the lower layer, the images of the Arhats are vivid, as if they are quietly observing the world. These hanging sculptures are exquisite in craftsmanship and vivid in image, as if they are about to walk out of the wall and have a dialogue with the world across time and space. Although the Manjusri Hall is limited in size, it successfully creates a fascinating fairyland with its rich and exquisite hanging sculpture art and the clever spatial layout of the upper and lower layers.

The Vairocana Hall, also known as the Three Buddha Hall, is the main hall with a width of three rooms. It has a single-eaved hipped roof and glazed edges. In the middle of the ridge is a lion carrying a treasure vase, and on both sides are elephants carrying treasure vases. The Three Buddha Hall houses statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Medicine Buddha and Amitabha Buddha. The murals on the east and west gables and the back eaves of the Three Buddha Hall are based on stories about the Buddha's life. They are painted in the comic strip format popular in the Ming Dynasty and use Ming-style fine brushwork, but were actually painted in the Qing Dynasty. Each story is marked in the painting, such as "The Birth of the Prince", "The Nine Dragons' Consecration", "Throwing the Elephant Across the City", "Galloping Horses", etc.

✅️There is a place 30 minutes by bullet train from Taiyuan, it is the hometown of Mencius' mother Zhang Shi, the ancestral home of the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi, and the hometown of the modern celebrity Kong Xiangxi. With a history of more than 1,400 years, it once became the 'Wall Street of China' due to the Jin merchants. This is Taigu, named after 'Three Mountains as Tai, Nine Valleys as Gu'. ✅️In addition to its long history, Taigu also retains rich relics. Within the small area of Taigu, there are 10 national key cultural relic protection units. Besides the former residence of Kong Xiangxi and Wubian Temple, my favorite is Jinxin Temple located in Yangyi Village, Yangyi Township. 🚗Although Jinxin Temple is not well-known, it is actually not difficult to reach. You can take a train from Taiyuan to Taigu or Taigu West Station. I recommend getting off at Taigu Station. After getting off, I didn't find any direct buses, but you can take a taxi or a tricycle, and it's not far. ✅️Upon arriving at Jinxin Temple, I initially couldn't find the contact information of the cultural relics manager. Later, after carefully searching, I found the phone number on the screen wall. After calling, the manager was initially reluctant to come and open the door, but after some pleading and explaining that I came from afar, and offering some compensation, she finally came to open the door for me, for which I was very grateful. ✅️Looking into the history of Jinxin Temple, we can learn that it was founded in the sixth year of the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty. It was originally a nunnery and later changed to a monastery. After several renovations and expansions over the dynasties, it has formed the current two-entry courtyard. ✅️The central axis from south to north includes the mountain gate, the opera stage, the Pilu Hall, and the Mahavira Hall. On both sides, there are the White Robe Hall (Niangniang Hall), the Guan Gong Hall, the Huiquan Hall, the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower, the East and West Heavenly King Halls, the Guanyin Hall, and the Dizang Hall. ✅️First, let's look at the opera stage. The design of this stage is very special. It is a combination of a front veranda with a hip-and-gable roof and a back with a suspended gable roof. There are also wooden eight-character walls on both sides. However, the most spectacular part of this stage is the wooden carvings on the dougong and eaves. The ends of the beams and the heads of the brackets are carved into dragon heads, and the dragon and phoenix patterns on the brackets are intricately carved. The top of the stage is covered with dazzling peacock blue glazed tiles, which look brilliant from a distance. ✅️Next, let's look at the Manjusri Hall, which preserves the most beautiful hanging sculptures in Jinxin Temple. In the middle of the hall is the main statue of Manjusri riding a lion, surrounded by various Arhat statues, some kind, some serene, some cute, all with different expressions. The surroundings are decorated with hanging sculptures of mountains, trees, clouds, and flying phoenixes, creating a heavenly sanctuary. The Puxian Hall opposite also has hanging sculptures, but they are not as well-preserved. ✅️Next, let's look at the Niangniang Hall. As the name suggests, this is a place where people pray for children. Inside the hall, there is a statue of a wet nurse and double-sided maid statues, which are very special and worth a good look. The wet nurse's expression is kind and elegant, making it a fine example of Ming Dynasty colored sculptures. ✅️For those who like murals, you should also check out the Fox God Hall, which enshrines Hu Tu, a minister of the Jin State during the Spring and Autumn period. The hall is not large, but the two murals inside are very special, with a tiger on the west side and a dragon on the east side. ✅️Finally, be sure to see the Mahavira Hall, a Ming Dynasty building with a single-eave gable roof, five rooms wide and three rooms deep. Inside the hall, there are Ming Dynasty colored sculptures, including statues of Buddha, Guanyin, and Mahasthamaprapta. The east and west walls also retain late Ming Dynasty water and land murals - the 'All Heavens Worshiping Buddha' painting, with colors mainly in white, blue, and red. ✅️It is also said that on the 18th day of the second lunar month, there is a temple fair in Yangyi, and Jinxin Temple will be open for local people to worship.

Jingxin Temple, founded in the sixth year of Kaiyuan in the Tang Dynasty (714); rebuilt during the Dading period of the Jin Dynasty (1161-1189); During the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty (1506-1521), the Pilu Hall was used as the southern hall, and the Daxiong Hall was expanded to the north with five rooms, the Guanyin Hall and the Dizang Hall each with five rooms, and a stage; In the thirty-third year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1605), a bell and drum tower was added; in the forty-fourth year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1616), the Baiyi Hall and Huiquan Hall were added. The stage: built on a 1.8-meter-high platform, the back stage is three rooms wide and four rafters deep, with a single eave hanging mountain top, and eight-character sound walls on both sides. The front stage is three rooms wide and five rafters deep, with a rolled shed and a mountain top. The peacock blue glazed tile covers the top, and a plaque of "Shen Ting and Peace" from the fourth year of Daoguang (1824) hangs under the eaves. The heads of the eaves are all carved into dragon heads, and the birds are carved into coiled dragons. The word "Zhao Jia" is written on the back of the stage, and the upper and lower stage doors are titled "Chu Jiang" and "Ren Xiang" respectively. Pilu Hall: Also known as the Three Buddha Hall, it is a main hall with three rooms wide and a single eave hanging mountain top. Inside the hall are statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Medicine Buddha and Amitabha Buddha. The east and west walls and the rear eave wall of the Three Buddha Hall are painted with murals, which are Buddha's life pictures made with Buddha's stories, drawn in the form of Ming Dynasty's popular comic strip and Ming-style meticulous painting, actually drawn in the Qing Dynasty. Daxiong Hall: Ming Dynasty architecture, five rooms wide and three rooms deep, with a single eave hanging mountain top, no pillars inside, and statues of Tathagata Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva. The east and west walls are also painted with pictures of all the heavens worshiping the Buddha, using the Ming-style meticulous painting method. The layout of the temple is very regular, the stage, hanging sculptures, murals, and glazed tiles are all very exquisite, each of the 11 halls has something to see inside and out, and I don't know where to look first. Tips: In 2006, Jingxin Temple was announced by the State Council as the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. It is difficult to take a taxi around Jingxin Temple, it is recommended to drive there.