China Jin Temple

Author: Jinxi Museum
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: This book introduces the tourist destination of Jinxi, known for its long history and beautiful natural scenery, in a vivid and illustrated manner. It provides detailed descriptions of dozens of representative scenic spots, halls, pavilions, and towers such as the (Hall of the Holy Mother), the Nannao Spring, the Iron Man, and the Iron Lion.
Jinxi, originally named the Temple of Tang Shuyu, was built to commemorate Tang Shuyu, the founding vassal of the Jin State. Its history dates back to the Western Zhou Dynasty in the 11th century BC, seven years after King Wu of Zhou conquered the Yin State and passed away due to illness. His eldest son, Cheng, ascended the throne as King Cheng. Since Cheng was too young, his uncle Dan assumed the imperial powers on his behalf, a period known as "Zhou Gong's Regency."
Located 25 kilometers southwest of Taiyuan City, Jinxi is one of China's key national cultural relic protection units. It was first built during the Northern Wei Dynasty and was originally the temple of Ji Yu, the second son of King Wu of the Western Zhou and the founding ruler of the Jin State. Jinxi has a very long history. Legend has it that in the early Western Zhou Dynasty, King Cheng Ji Song enfeoffed his younger brother Yu as the founding vassal of the ancient Jin State. Yu governed wisely, bringing prosperity and strength to the nation. To honor him, his descendants built a temple here, which was called "Jinxi." However, the exact founding date of Jinxi remains uncertain.
According to the Shui Jing Zhu (Annotations to the Waterways Classic) by Li Daoyuan of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Jinxi already existed before the Northern Wei period. At that time, it not only had the Fish Pool and the Temple of Tang Shuyu but also had pavilions by the water, flying bridges over the water, ancient trees intertwined, and numerous visitors, making it a famous tourist destination in Jin Valley.
The current architecture of Jinxi, with the exception of the main hall, the Hall of the Holy Mother, and the "Fish Pool and Flying Bridge," which are remnants from the Northern Song Dynasty, was mostly built during the Jin, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The Hall of the Holy Mother is grand in scale, with the Fish Pool and Flying Bridge, the Offering Hall, the Double Stele Pavilion, and the Bell Towers in front. Further ahead are the Golden Person Terrace, the Meeting Immortal Bridge, and the Water Mirror Terrace, forming a temple complex centered around the Hall of the Holy Mother. Other buildings in the temple area include the Yangchao Cave, the Three Terrace Pavilion, the Temple of Guandi (Guanyin), the Temple of Heaven, the Temple of the East Prison, the Temple of Wen Chang, the Shengying Pavilion, the Jingqing Gate, and the Temple of Tang Shuyu.
Jinxi includes dozens of classical garden-style buildings, set in a serene and comfortable environment with beautiful and picturesque scenery. The landscape layout can be divided into three parts:
- Central Section: Entering through the main gate of Jinxi, from the Water Mirror Terrace, across the Meeting Immortal Bridge, the Golden Person Terrace, the Double Stele Pavilion, the Bell and Drum Towers, the Offering Hall, and the Fish Pool and Flying Bridge, to the Hall of the Holy Mother. This is the core area of Jinxi.
- Northern Section: Starting from the Temple of Wen Chang, passing through the Temple of Dongyue, the Temple of Guandi, the Three Clear Caves, the Temple of Tang Shuyu, the Yangchao Cave, the Waiting Phoenix Pavilion, the Three Terrace Pavilion, and the Reading Platform, to the Temple of Lü Zuxu. This group of buildings has a dynamic and artistic value.
- Southern Section: Starting from the Shengying Pavilion, passing through the White Crane Pavilion, the Three Saints Temple, the Zhenqi Pavilion, the Nannao Pavilion, and the Water Mother Pavilion, to the Temple of Gonggongzi.
Within Jinxi, the Nannao Spring, the Zhou Cypress, and the Attendant Maidens are known as the "Three Wonders of Jinxi." Among them, the 43 Attendant Maiden statues are unique in attire and form, showcasing high artistic value.