The Symbiosis of Tree and Temple, the Regret of Humans and Gods—Nanliu Taishan Temple

📍 Shanxi · Yuncheng · Jiangxian County 🔸On the small country road leading to Nanliu Taishan Temple, the ground is covered with hawthorn pits, and the air is filled with a sweet and sour scent. The temple sits on a raised platform in the countryside, consisting of a few simple ancient buildings and a dead old tree. The exact date of its construction is unknown, but the existing ancient buildings are relics from the Yuan to Qing dynasties. 🔸Inside the temple stands a thousand-year-old cypress tree, said to have been planted during the time of Confucius and known as the "Zhou Cypress." Due to accidental damage to its roots during past rural construction, the ancient cypress is no longer lush and green. It's a shame that this ancient cypress cannot be revived, but it still stands tall, guarding the ancient buildings. 🔸Today, we cannot verify why such a large-scale Taishan Temple was built here a thousand years ago. Perhaps in the long course of history, this place was once a flourishing center of worship, attracting countless believers. Now, we can only observe the companionship of the ancient tree and the old temple, quietly guarding this land. 🔸The power of gods comes from human faith. Without faith, they will only gradually weaken and eventually disappear. 🔸This place possesses a quiet beauty, yet also exudes a sense of everyday life. A thousand-year-old cypress, a few old temple buildings, vibrant plants on the ground, and hawthorns casually drying on the balcony. The smoke from the temple keeper's cooking fire adds a touch of life and vitality, creating a harmonious scene. The temple receives few tourists, mainly architecture enthusiasts who come to explore. If you have time, stay a while and quietly experience the inner peace. 🚗 Transportation: Chartering a car or driving yourself is recommended; parking is available at the entrance. ⏰ Opening hours: The gate was open when I visited, and I went straight in. As I was leaving, a friendly man on a bicycle asked where we were from; he might have been the cultural relic preservationist. He seemed happy to see visitors, as it meant that someone still came to explore the beauty of this ancient temple.