Yuanqi Temple

CHINA, Shanxi, Changzhi

Yuanqi means Origins. The temple was founded in 747 during the Tang dynasty and has subsequently undergone repairs and expansions. The Great Hero Hall and Great Sage Pagoda are original structures from the Song dynasty (960–1279), while the remaining buildings all date from the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2001.
The temple faces south and includes the Great Hero Hall, Great Sage Pagoda, side halls, and the sutra pillar. The three-bay by four-rafter Great Hero Hall has a single-eave hip-and-gable roof covered with cylindrical tiles bordered with glazed tiles. The seven-tier, octagonal Great Sage Pagoda was constructed in 1087 during the Northern Song dynasty and is 17 m high. The first to third tiers are hollow. An entrance is located on the north side of the first tier. Each tier features imitation wooden architraves, bracket sets, rafters, and corner beams made of brick.
The 2.6 m high sutra pillar is located in front of the Great Hero Hall and was constructed from limestone in 747 during the Tang dynasty. The base consists of two layers: the lower is square, while the upper is octagonal. Each side is decorated with shallow niches with reliefs of mythical creatures and apsaras. The pillar body is octagonal and has the Usnisavijaya Dharani Sutra inscribed upon it, as well as information regarding the construction of the pillar and the temple. At the top there is an octagonal roof followed by an upright lotus, stacked rings, and a gourd-shaped jewel.