Wutaishan Guangji Temple Great Hero Hall

CHINA, Shanxi, Xinzhou

Located within Guangji Temple, the hall was built during the rule of Emperor Zhizheng (reigned 1341–1367) of the Yuan dynasty. Although parts of the building have been repaired on different occasions, the structure still retains its original Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) design. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2001.
The five-by-three bay Great Hero Hall has a single-eave overhanging gable roof, built on a high base which forms a platform in front of the building. The gradient of the roof is gentle. The capitals of columns that support the roof feature heads of deer or unicorns. Inside, there is an open space at the front. The back area is also spacious with two large columns erected on each side. A Buddha altar is located in the center of the hall and has a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha flanked by two Bodhisattvas. The Eighteen Arhats line the sides of the hall. Behind the partition wall are Yuan dynasty clay statues of the Three Great Bodhisattvas, which are representative of that period. An octagonal 4 m high Tang dynasty (618–907) stone sutra pillar can be found in front of the hall.