Xingguo Temple

CHINA, Gansu, Tianshui

Xingguo means Flourishing Country, though it is also called Xinggu (Flourishing Valley) Temple or Guan (Government) Temple. It was established in the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) and completed during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Subsequent renovations and expansions were carried out; however, the temple kept its original layout. The temple was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1996.
The temple faces west and occupies 4,888 sq m. The main buildings along the central axis include the Vajra Hall, which is the main temple gate, Heavenly King Hall, Skanda Hall, and the Prajna Hall. Along either side are the bell and drum towers, Sangharama Hall, and the Bodhisattva Hall. The largest building of the temple is the Prajna Hall with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof covered in cylindrical tiles. It is a three-by-two bay structure with a five bay wide portico at the front. The front of the building is covered in partition doors at its central bay and on both sides, while the sides and back are protected by walls. It has glazed ridge decorations such as dragons, lotuses, lions, and dogs. At the center there are jewels located on top of an animal head. Kalavinkas and squatting creatures are featured at the ends of the side ridges. Supporting the eaves are multi-tier bracket sets with downward-pointing cantilevers. The column reduction method was used inside the hall, creating a large open space.
The three-by-one bay Skanda Hall was built during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). It is two stories high and located in between the bell and drum towers. It has a single-eave flushed gable roof covered in clay tiles with a highly decorated ridge. The layout, design, and size of the bell and drum towers are basically the same: they are square, two stories high and have a single-eave hip-and-gable roof covered in clay tiles.