Zhenguo Temple
鎮國寺 · Xiangyuan Township
building in Pingyao County, China
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Zhenguo Temple1:46
Welcome to Zhenguo Temple, a hidden jewel of Chinese Buddhist architecture located in Pingyao County, Shanxi Province. As a scholar of ancient timber-frame structures, I consider this temple one of the most critical sites in the…
Listen in the app2Tianwang Hall — The Mountain Gate1:26
We begin at the Tianwang Hall, which serves as the Shanmen or main gate of the Zhenguo Temple. While this structure was rebuilt during the Yuan Dynasty and has undergone various repairs over the centuries, it retains the robust…
Listen in the app3Wanfo Hall — The Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas1:31
Standing before the Wanfo Hall, we encounter one of the true 'national treasures' of China. Built in 963 AD, it is the earliest existing wooden structure in the Pingyao region and one of the oldest in the country. …
Listen in the app4The Ancient Iron Bell — A 12th Century Voice1:17
To the side of the main hall, we find the Bell Tower, which houses one of the most significant cultural relics in the temple: an ancient iron bell. Inscribed with the date of the fifth year of the Jin Dynasty's Huang-tong…
Listen in the app5The Moon Gate and the Back Courtyard1:19
We pass now through the 'Yue-liang-men' or Moon Gate into the back courtyard. This area was expanded and renovated primarily during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, representing the temple's continued relevance through the centuries. …
Listen in the app6Dizang and Guanyin Halls — Devotion in Color1:23
Entering the Dizang Hall, we encounter the 'Dizang Wang Bodhisattva,' the guardian of the underworld. The sculptures here are 'dignified and solemn,' masterpieces of Ming Dynasty craftsmanship. …
Listen in the app7Sanfo Pavilion — The Pinnacle of the Back Court1:25
Our final stop is the Sanfo Pavilion, or the Three Buddha Pavilion. Built during the Ming Dynasty, this is a two-story brick and wood structure that houses three primary Buddhas. …
Listen in the app8Closing1:09
As we conclude our tour of Zhenguo Temple, take a final look at the grey, weathered tiles of the Wanfo Hall. You have walked through a site that is a literal miracle of survival. …
Listen in the app
What is Zhenguo Temple?
Zhenguo Temple is a place in Xiangyuan Township with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Xiangyuan Township |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Total length | 11 min 16 s in all |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 37.2856, 112.2710 |
| Last updated |