Zhenguo Temple Zhenguo Temple, formerly known as "Jingcheng Temple", was built in the seventh year of Tianhui in the Northern Han Dynasty (963) during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. The temple fell into decline during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the 20th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1815), the main building in the temple, the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas, was rebuilt according to its original appearance. The temple is divided into two courtyards, front and rear, with a rigorous layout.
Inside the mountain gate is the Hall of Heavenly Kings, with the four heavenly kings sculptured inside, and the bell and drum towers on the left and right facing each other. In the center of the front yard is the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas. There are more than 20 stone tablets in the east and west corridors, most of which record the history of the temple. There are Guanyin Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall and Three Buddha Tower in the backyard.
Except for the Guanyin Hall, each hall has statues with moderate proportions and dignified and beautiful faces. Each has its own characteristics depending on its content. There are murals of the story of Sakyamuni painted on the two gables in the Three Buddha Building. The conception is otherworldly, the scenery is clear, and the characters are lifelike. It is the superior production of murals in the Ming Dynasty.
The Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas is the earliest building in the temple. There is an inscription under the ridge of the main hall, "It was built in the third month of Guihai, the seventh year of the Han Dynasty." The Buddhist hall has three rooms each in depth and width, with a nearly square plane, a single eaves resting on the top of the mountain, and far-reaching eaves. The total height of the brackets exceeds two-thirds of the column height, which is very rare. The beams in the hall are built with six rafters and two floors, with four rafters and flat beams on top. The shape is simple, majestic and solemn.
The sculptures in the hall are of great artistic value. There are one Buddha, two disciples, four Bodhisattvas, two heavenly kings, and two supporting Bodhisattvas. There are a total of eleven Buddha statues, all with plump faces and slightly curved bodies. , retaining the styling characteristics of the Five Dynasties period. In the courtyard of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall, there is one famous dragon and tiger locust tree, and a stone tablet "Zhenguo Temple Dragon Locust Tree" is embedded in the wall. There is also a half-broken stele, which is a relic from the Mingchang period of the Jin Dynasty. The calligraphy of the stele is exquisite and has the style of the two kings. (State Administration of Cultural Heritage)
Address: Haodong Village, Pingyao County, Jinzhong City (about 15 kilometers northeast)
Type: Monuments and Temples
Visiting Time: Recommended 1-2 hours
Tel: 0354-5848041
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday 8:30-18:00, subject to seasonal changes Some slight adjustments.
Ticket information:
30 yuan. At present, the ticket price of the scenic spot is 24 yuan for a long time. The price fluctuation is subject to the announcement on the day.
Gutao Town: Gutao Town: the seat of Pingyao County Government. Located at the southern end of Taiyuan Basin, it borders Qixian County to the east, Wenshui to the north, Fenyang to the west, Jiexiu to the southwest, Pingyao Ancient City borders Qinyuan to the south, and Qinxian County and Wuxiang to the southeast. It is the political, economic and cultural center of the county. The World Cultural Heritage-Pingyao Ancient City is located in the middle of our town. It is one of the most dynamic economically powerful towns in Pingyao County. It borders Yuebi Township and Duancun Town in the south, and Zhongzhong Town in the west. It is adjacent to Duxiang Township, connected to Nanzheng Township to the north, and Yuebi Township and Hongshan Town to the east. The Gutao Town Government is located in Xicheng Village and has jurisdiction over Dongcheng, Xicheng, Nancheng, and