Chong’an Temple

CHINA, Shanxi, Jincheng

Chong’an means Honorable Peace. The date of construction of the temple is unknown but there is a record of a name change in the early Tang dynasty (618–907). It has been restored and rebuilt a number of times throughout its history. The present temple consists of buildings from the Yuan (1271–1368), Ming (1368–1644), and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2006.
The south-facing temple is extensive and consists of two courtyards. The principal buildings include the main temple gate, intermediate hall, Great Hero Hall, bell and drum towers, West Flower Arrangement Tower, and the east and west side halls. The five-by-three bay main temple gate, also known as the Old Mound Tower, is two stories high with the Heavenly King Hall occupying the upper story. It has a double-eave hip-and-gable roof. The blue limestone door is engraved with a date in 1061. The square bell and drum towers on either side of the main temple gate have double-eave hip-and-gable roofs. The three buildings stand impressively on an extensive terrace, which is approached by a broad central stairway.
The intermediate hall is five bays wide and six bays deep with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. The five-by-six bay Great Hero Hall has a single-eave overhanging gable roof, supported by two-tier bracket sets with double projecting bracket arms and double downward-pointing cantilevers. The two-story, three-by-three bay West Flower Arrangement Tower has a double-eave hip-and-gable roof. It is built in the distinctive Yuan dynasty style. The central bay of the first story consists of a paneled doorway, while the same bay on the second story has a lattice door.
The temple contains a number of historical artifacts, including over ten steles from the Song (960–1279) to Qing dynasties, an iron bell cast in 1102, and a stone relief depicting the Buddha Pentad from the Sui (581–618) or Tang dynasties.