[2025 Wanrong Attraction] Travel Guide for Jiwang Temple (Updated Apr)

1⃣The things over there were so good that I felt nothing at all when I saw Yuan Gou in the end, my heart was as calm as still water. 2⃣The places are really too remote. Sometimes you can only see one attraction after driving on the national highway for more than an hour. You need to have expectations for the intensity of the trip. 3⃣ If you don’t have enough time, you can either drive yourself or charter a car or join a tour group. Taking public transportation is too unrealistic. ⭕️We stayed in Yuncheng, Linfen for four days. I had planned to visit many places, but I was limited by my physical strength and time. For example, Hou Tu Temple (I still had time to go on the third day, but I felt I didn’t have the energy to go back to Yuncheng), Yongle Palace (I originally planned to go on the fourth day, but I didn’t want to move after lying in the hotel. Fortunately, I had visited it a year ago, so I don’t regret it) 🔥The entire journey takes four days (the fourth day can be basically ignored) 1⃣At 10:18, we arrived at Linfen West, picked up the car and headed straight for Xiaoxitian. Seeing that it would take more than 50 kilometers to take the highway, we took the Linyan Line. There were a lot of large trucks in the first half of this road, so we must pay attention to safety. We took this route back again, and visited the Dongyue Temple in Pu County (very worth it), and also went to Fenshang Village which I accidentally saw when passing by (a pleasant surprise on the self-driving trip). 2⃣At 9 o'clock, we went to Dayun Temple to see the Iron Buddha Head, and then to Guangsheng Temple (the stay time seriously exceeded expectations, and the original plan to stay in Jishan did not come true). After a simple fast food meal in Hongdong County at around 2 o'clock, we rushed to Xinjiang. It was almost 6 o'clock when we finished visiting Fusheng Temple and Longxing Temple. Considering physical strength and time, we stayed in Xinjiang. 3⃣ Give up other attractions in Xinjiang, start from Baitai Temple, Dafo Temple, Jishan Jiwang Temple, Fawang Temple, Macun Brick Sculpture, Qinglong Temple one by one, and finally go to Wanrong Jiwang Temple and stay in Jishan. The attractions on this day are very close and not far apart, but most of them are country roads and village roads, so the time on the road is not short. What we saw at the tourist spots that day were basically a group of tourists. From the high-spirited people at the beginning to the people holding their waists and beating their legs at the end, you can imagine how intense the exercise was. In fact, it was just past 4 o'clock when we finished visiting the Wanrong Jiwang Temple, and we were fully qualified to go to the Houtu Temple. However, our energy was only enough to go there, not to go back. The accommodation there seemed to be a little worse, so we gave up and went back to Yuncheng directly. 4⃣ We didn’t go to Yongle Palace as originally planned. We visited Chishen Temple and Guanwang Temple in Yuncheng and returned to Xi’an early. ✅The total mileage of this trip is about 600 kilometers, and I almost never took the highway (only 24 hours on the highway). The total time on the road is about 11 hours, which means an average of 4 hours and 200 kilometers per day. Those who have self-driving plans can refer to this. I feel that it is very sunny and windy there these days. It is cold if I take off my coat, and stuffy with my coat on. It is easy to catch a cold if I am not careful. If I catch a cold, it will greatly affect my travel condition (don’t ask me how I know). The road conditions are generally good, but some village roads may be too wide, so you need to pay attention. Although Gaode often directs you to unnamed roads, it is generally reliable and can be trusted.

Wanrong Jiwang Temple, this mysterious and niche temple has a great origin. It is the only remaining Northern Song Dynasty hip-roofed building in China. Even Mr. Liang Sicheng tried to find it three times but missed it regretfully. It is definitely a "lost pearl in the ocean" in the architectural world😌. 👀Highlights ✅The main hall has a hip roof, single eaves and five ridges, which is solemn and majestic, with just the right slope, smooth lines, steady yet agile, and huge brackets stacked one on top of the other. They are not only the support of the building, but also show the superb skills and wisdom of the ancients. ✅ The Beamless Hall, the entire hall does not have a single beam, yet it has stood firmly for thousands of years. ✅A thousand-year-old bell, an ancient bell from the fourth year of Xuanhe in the Song Dynasty. Although it has gone through years, the sound of the bell is still loud. ✅Dragon Pillar: There is only one stone pillar with a dragon carved on it in the main hall, located on the left, and a wolfberry wood pillar on the right. Using relief techniques, the dragon's shape, expression, scales, claws, etc. are depicted in great detail, and the dragon's body is winding and lifelike.

Share a mysterious and niche treasure trove - Wanrong Jiwang Temple. The Jiwang Temple is located in Taizhao Village, Nanzhang Township, Wanrong County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. The existing main hall was built in the first year of Tiansheng in the Northern Song Dynasty (1023) and is the only remaining Northern Song Dynasty hip-roofed building in China. This is an ancient building that Liang Sicheng missed despite searching for it three times. Now it exudes a unique historical charm in a low-key manner, and it is definitely worth a visit! The hip roof is one of the highest-level roof forms in traditional Chinese architecture. It is solemn and majestic. When you walk into the main hall, you will find that the main beams in the hall are divided into two sections, front and back, which are interlaced and hooked together. There is no usual main beam to support it. The locals call it the "beamless hall". This unique beam structure is ingenious and full of ancient wisdom. ▫️▫️▫️▫️ ⓘ ⓝ ⓕ ⓞ ▫️▫️▫️▫️ 📍Address: Taizhao Village, Nanzhang Township, Wanrong County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province 🚇Transportation: It is recommended to charter a car or drive by yourself🚗 💰Tickets: Free

| The Ancestor of Agriculture. Ji King Temple was built to commemorate Hou Ji, the ancestor of agriculture. Hou Ji is the symbol of the God of Grains and the guardian of ancient agriculture. The history of Ji King Temple can be traced back to the Northern Song Dynasty, and the Wudian-style main hall is unique in China. The chiwen on both sides of the roof ridge is in the shape of a whole dragon, and the ridge in the middle is Lingxiao Hall, the residence of the Jade Emperor. The main hall is not supported by beams, so it is called the Beamless Hall. The stage was rebuilt during the Republic of China period, and its roof is a combination of various styles, with rough columns and paintings in the style of the Yuan Dynasty, and exquisite wood carvings. There is a big bell from the fourth year of the Xuanhe period of the Song Dynasty at the entrance of Wanrong, but it is not the original bell of Ji King Temple. The original bell was destroyed in 1958 during the Great Leap Forward. Wanrong Ji King Temple is not only the guardian of the God of Agriculture, but also a witness to history. Address: Taizhao Village, Wanrong County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province Opening hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Admission is free, but registration is required. Parking is available on the roadside in the village, which is very convenient.

There is a Ji King Temple in almost every county in Yuncheng. Wanrong Ji King Temple is located in Taizhao Village, Wanrong County. It is a national protected site and free to visit. Wanrong Ji King Temple is not large, with only two main buildings: the opera stage (photo 2) and the main hall (photo 3). The opera stage was built in the Yuan Dynasty and renovated in the Republic of China. The main hall is the only existing Song Dynasty building with a hipped roof in China, and is the most exquisite part of the temple. There are no large beams inside the hall, so it is commonly known as the "beamless hall." The paintings on the brackets under the eaves are still clearly visible (photo 10). There is an ancient bell from the Song Dynasty in front of the main hall (photo 11), which can still be rung. There is also a colorful coiled dragon column (photo 12).

Step into Ji Wang Temple and you will be greeted by a simple yet solemn atmosphere. The temple is magnificent, with exquisite flying eaves and brackets, and the sunlight highlights its historical charm. Inside the main hall, the statue of Ji Wang is solemn and dignified, as if quietly telling the story of ancient farming civilization. The surrounding murals are colorful yet simple, vividly depicting the scene of Hou Ji teaching people to farm. From sowing to harvesting, each picture shows the ancient people's exploration and wisdom of agriculture. The temple is lined with ancient steles, and the words on the steles record the historical changes of Ji Wang Temple, witnessing its ups and downs in the long river of time, and carrying people's respect for the ancestor of agriculture. It is like a living history museum, showing the world the splendor and brilliance of the farming culture of the Chinese nation.

In ancient my country, there has always been a system of "Sheji Sacrifice". The place for worshipping the god of land is called "She", and the place for worshipping the god of grain is called "Ji". Sheji is a general term for the god of land and the god of grains. Specifically speaking, She is the god of the land, and Ji is the god of the five grains. The gods of land and grains are the most important primitive objects of worship for the agriculture-based Chinese nation. In ancient times, in order to pray for peace in the country and a good harvest, the monarchs would go to the suburbs every year to offer sacrifices to the land and grain gods, that is, to the gods of land and grain. Later, "sheji" was used to refer to the country. ✔️The "Jiwang Temple" located in Wanrong County, Yuncheng, Shanxi Province is the only remaining Northern Song Dynasty hip-roofed building in China. It was built to worship Houji, the god of grains. In 2001, it was listed as the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. ✔️The main hall of Jiwang Temple was built in the first year of Tiansheng in the Northern Song Dynasty (1023 AD). It has been a thousand years old and has been preserved to this day after many repairs. The main hall faces south and is five bays wide and six rafters deep. It has a single-eaved hip roof, and the front and rear corridors and the two mountain-facing chessboards are all five-layered, double-lower-angled and heart-shaped. There is a row of central pillars in the hall, which goes straight to the bottom of the flat beam. The main beam is divided into two sections, front and back, which are interspersed with each other. There is no full-length beam, so it is called the Beamless Hall locally. ✔️Wudian roof, also known as Wudian roof, was called "Wudian" or "Si'a Ding" in the Song Dynasty, "Wudian" or "Wujidian" in the Qing Dynasty, and "Yidongzukuri" in Japanese. It is an ancient building in China, Japan, and Korea. A roof style. In China, it is the highest level of all roof styles. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, only the royal family and Confucius Temple could use it. It was also seen in Buddhist temple architecture during the Tang Dynasty and in Japan. The hip roof is divided into two types: single-eaved and double-eaved. The so-called double-eaved means adding a short eave at each of the four corners under the roof to form a second eave. The Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City has a double-eaved hipped roof, while the Wanrong Jiwang Temple has a single-eaved hipped roof. ✔️There are 7 existing Houji Temples in southern Shanxi. Wanrong Jiwang Temple is the most famous. It is the only single-eaved hip-roofed building from the Northern Song Dynasty. Be sure to check its location before visiting. Liang Sicheng saw the architectural style of Jiwang Temple in Wanrong in the book "Yingzaofashi", a professional book on Song Dynasty architecture. He and his wife Lin Huiyin visited Shanxi to inspect ancient buildings in 1933, 1934 and 1937, but did not find this temple. Temples are also a place that makes people feel sad and regretful for the rest of their lives. When people visit historical sites, they often pay more attention to the stories and cultural connotations behind the buildings. However, many ancient sites in Shanxi are just the opposite. Although the ancient buildings scattered in unknown places in the countryside have no historical records, the beauty of the buildings themselves makes people linger. 📍Jiwang Temple in Taizhao Village, Wanrong County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province 🚗Shanxi attractions are scattered, it is recommended to drive or charter a car 💰Free, no reservation required ⏰️8:00-17:00, tour duration 1 hour 💡Wanrong County also has a Qiufeng Tower, which is famous for its eternal masterpiece "Autumn Wind Ode", and Feiyun Tower, which is said to be built by Lu Ban and the first wooden building in China. It is worth visiting for a day. 😂

🏰 The main hall of the Wanrong Ji Wang Temple, as the only existing Wu Dian roof building in our country, has stood there since the first year of Tiansheng (AD 1023), witnessing countless historical changes. 📜 Every brick and tile embodies the wisdom and exquisite craftsmanship of the ancients. 🕋️ The main hall is five rooms wide and six trusses deep. Under the eaves, the column heads are decorated with two jumps of Ang-shaped Hua Dou Gong, the first jump steals the heart, and the second jump supports the Ling Dou to play the head; each of the supplements is decorated with five paves to make a Dou Gong, double down Ang, the first jump steals the heart, the second jump is the real Ang, the tail of the Ang picks up the flat tie, which supports the Ling Dou. 🔨 These fine constructions not only show the rigor of Song Dynasty architecture, but also make people marvel. 🏛️ The main hall beam frame is a hall style, two trusses connect the front and back breast trusses to use four columns, surrounded by corridors, auxiliary steps around, such design is convenient for sacrificial activities, and also suitable for circumambulation worship. 👣 Walking in the corridor, as if you can hear the chanting of ancient monks, feel the solemn solemnity. 🚪 Because it does not use through beams, it is also called 'beamless hall'. This unique building is not only a heritage of Song Dynasty architectural skills, but also a memory of the culture of that time. 📜 Here, history and reality intertwine, making people think. 📷 Coming to the main hall of Wanrong Ji Wang Temple is like walking into a living history book, every step can feel the heavy historical atmosphere. 📷 Whether you are a lover of architecture or an explorer of history and culture, this is a rare destination

✅Where is the oldest existing "庑殿顶" building? Wanrong. ✅In ancient Chinese architecture, the "庑殿顶" is the highest level and is generally only used for the main buildings of royal palaces and temples. The Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City in Beijing is the largest and most magnificent "hipped roof" building in existence. It has a double-skinned hipped roof and was built when Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty moved the capital. ✅However, in a very inconspicuous small village in Wanrong County, Yuncheng, Shanxi, there is a "庑殿顶" building. The inscription on the stele said it was renovated in the Jin Dynasty. According to experts, it was first built in the Northern Song Dynasty, which is even older, which is amazing. ✅Legend has it that Emperor Yao's elder brother Hou Ji taught people how to farm, that is, he taught the common people how to grow crops, and was appointed by Yao as an agricultural teacher. He worked tirelessly to sow grains and feed the people. Later generations revered him as the God of Agriculture and was the "Ancestor of Farming and God of Grains" of China. Because of his great contributions, sacrifices are constantly made to him and there are many temples dedicated to him, especially in Shanxi and Shaanxi. 📍Wanrong "Ji Wang Temple" is located in Taizhao Village in the north of the city. The gate is not prominent, but the courtyard is quite large and is surrounded by residential houses. 📍When you enter the door, there is a reversed stage. A door through the pavilion vaguely reveals the majestic atmosphere of the hall, which is dignified and beautiful, simple and timeless without losing its grandeur. There is a corridor on the front, with walls that recede inward, making the roof appear wider and the eaves deeper. The brackets under the eaves are clustered and connected like a string of flowers. ❤Walk around the "Qian Sui" Hall with a respectful heart. It is truly unique: no beams, but there are corridors and one stone pillar. Unlike most palace-style wooden structures, the main hall does not have a large beam running through the front and back. Instead, it is supported by small beams inserted on the pillars. It looks very complicated and is known as the "beamless hall". It can be said to be an alternative among wooden structures. The main hall where the statue is enshrined is very small. It is built only with walls built around the central pillar. There is a circle of corridors outside and the front is not closed. Bells, drums, inscriptions, shrines, etc. are placed here. It serves the combined function of a bell tower, drum tower and offering hall? There are five bays and six pillars on the front, but only one stone pillar with a coiled dragon pattern, which is very different from the traditional habit of even numbers and symmetry. I wonder why? ❤After chatting with the old man who guards the temple, I learned that the main hall was repaired in 1998. The purlins and tiles on the roof were replaced, and new walls were built. The beams and columns could only be reinforced and some rotten parts replaced, but they did not dare to dismantle the frame at all, because once dismantled, according to the modern level of ancient buildings, such a complex beam frame could not be put back! ❤Embedded on the wall is a handwritten "Introduction to the Beamless Hall" by villagers, signed by "Tai Zhao Old People's Association Cultural Relics Protection Group" and dated "June 30, 1998". Could it be that the repair was organized spontaneously by the villagers of Tai Zhao? move!