Yong An Temple

Yong'an Temple was originally named "Shenzhou Grand Yong'an Temple", commonly known as "the Great Temple". Its predecessor was destroyed by war in the Jin Dynasty. The current temple was rebuilt in the second year of the Yanyou reign of the Yuan Dynasty (1315 AD) by Gao Ding, the military governor. Since Gao Ding called himself "Yongan Jushi" (a lay Buddhist with the sobriquet of Yong'an), the temple was named "Yong'an Temple". Along the central axis of the current temple, there are main buildings such as the Gate of Liberation, the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Viewing Tower, and the Hall of the Orthodox Transmission of Dharma.

Highlights of Yong'an Temple

The Hall of the Orthodox Transmission of Dharma

The Hall of the Orthodox Transmission of Dharma

The Hall of the Orthodox Transmission of Dharma is five bays wide and six rafters deep, with a single-eave hip-roof. A moon terrace is built in front, making the environment around the hall open and spacious. The internal beam-frame structure is rigorous, and some of the components inherit the architectural style of the Liao Dynasty, which is extremely precious. The caisson in the central bay is also very delicate, with celestial palaces and pavilions set around it, representing the caisson style in northern Shanxi.

The Murals of the Orthodox Transmission of Dharma

The Murals of Orthodox Transmission of Dharma

The murals on the inner walls of the Hall of the Orthodox Transmission of Dharma are the crown jewels of Yong'an Temple. The Ten Wisdom Kings are arranged in a row on the north wall. The lines are robust and intricate, full of dynamism and a sense of power. The technique of applying powdered minerals and gilding still shines brightly after hundreds of years. Among the Ten Wisdom Kings, one stands out.The Mahābala-Acala, informally called the "Face-Tearing Wisdom King," can be taken as the image representative of Yong'an Temple. Its original being is Vairocana. The King was mysterious, demonstrating the union of compassion and wisdom.

Note: Visitors may take photos, but flash photography is prohibited.

The Eight Large-sized Inscribed Characters

The Eight Large-sized Inscribed Characters

The eight large-sized inscribed characters possess a unique cultural feature among the currently existing temples in China. On the gable wall of the Hall of the Orthodox Transmission of Dharma in Yong'an Temple, the two characters "Zhuang Yan" (solemn) stand out as probably the most representative iconic mark of the temple. Engraved on the rear wall of the main hall are the two-part inscriptions "Hu Xiao" (tigers roaring) and "Long Yin" (dragons singing). All these characters are carved in intaglio. The huge and powerful calligraphy imparts a simple and antique feel to the temple. Once, the characters "Fa" (Dharma) and "Xiang" (appearance) were inscribed on the left and right sides of the back wall of the Hall of the Heavenly Kings. Due to the passage of time, only "Xiang" remains. If all four characters were combined, they would form the phrase "Fa Xiang Zhuang Yan" (the solemn appearance of the Dharma) within the temple courtyard.

These murals of Ten Wisdom Kings of Esoteric Buddhism from the Ming Dynasty in the Yong'an Temple have a far more stunning forms, which has almost made them a symbol of Hunyuan. The relatively complete ancient architectural complex from the Yuan Dynasty enriched Yong'an Temple further by incorporating elements to Han-Chinese Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Nestorianism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shamanism. Such a combination rarely finds a place in the existing ancient temples in China.