Longyan Temple

CHINA, Shanxi, Jincheng

Longyan stands for Dragon Cliffs. This place was originally used for the purpose of praying for rain and blessings by the local people. It was changed into a temple and renamed during the Tang dynasty (618–907). Buildings were repaired and added during subsequent dynasties. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2001.
The temple compound consists of front and back courtyards and faces south. Along the central axis there are the main temple gate, intermediate hall, and the main hall. To either side there are the battlement towers and side buildings. The Central Buddha Hall, also known as the intermediate hall, was built in 1129 during the Jin dynasty. It has a three-bay by six-rafter structure with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof covered in gray clay tiles. The structure is square with an exposed framework. The roof is supported by three rows of columns with tie beams that are four rafters wide in the front and two rafters wide at the back. The eaves are supported by two-tier bracket sets with a single projecting bracket arm and down-pointing cantilevers. Two intercolumnar bracket sets can be found above the central bay, while the side bays only have one set. Murals can be found decorating the gables inside, while the exterior is inlaid with a stone stele recording the history of the temple. The remaining buildings were built during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).