Guzhongmiao Village, Gaoping, Shanxi
Guzhongmiao, also known as the Yan Emperor Temple, is located in Guzhongmiao Village, Shennong Town, 10.5 kilometers northeast of Gaoping City. The exact date of the temple's establishment is unknown. It faces south and covers an area of about 12,000 square meters. The temple is built along the mountain terrain and has a grand architectural scale. It is divided into upper and lower courtyards. The lower courtyard includes buildings such as a stage, watchtower, and incense kitchen. The upper courtyard contains the mountain gate, Crown Prince Hall, main hall (Ancestor Hall), side halls (Guan Yu Hall, Former Silkworm Hall, Medicine King Hall, Lady Hall), and wing rooms. On May 25, 2006, it was announced by the State Council as the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.
The lower courtyard of Guzhongmiao has an east-facing gate with a large inscription of "Guzhongmiao" above the arched doorway; the gate is newly built. The temple buildings are constructed sequentially along the central axis following the terrain. The ancient stage originally facing south in the southern courtyard has been destroyed; the existing stage was built in the 1970s. To the west of the stage is the meditation room, and to the east is the watchtower.
The mountain gate in the upper courtyard is located south of the central axis, with three bays wide and five purlins deep. A partition wall is built at the position of the front eave’s golden purlin in the middle bay, with a plank door forming a front porch layout. The rear eave has three open bays with a single-eave hanging gable roof covered with dry tiles and a glazed ridge. The mountain gate is three bays wide, with two stone pillars standing at the front and rear eaves of the middle bay. Walls support the two gables and the front golden purlin. Four floral column capitals are applied on the flat beams of the front and rear eaves, shaped as a combination of one dou and two sheng with hemp leaf patterns. The hemp leaf heads connect four main beams and single-step beams, intersecting in a cross pattern inside the large dou to support the purlin beams. The bases of the front eave columns are carved on all four sides with unicorns and eight fierce beast heads, symbolizing guarding the temple gate.
Above the doorway on the west side of the mountain gate is a Ming Dynasty stone plaque inscribed with "Yan Emperor Temple," dated to the second year of the Tianqi reign (1622), over 400 years ago. The inscription is vigorous and very prominent. Usually, the plaque would be placed directly above the temple gate, but the four characters "Yan Emperor Temple" are on the west doorway. A stele inside the temple from the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty explains this: the original old temple gate was below the "Yan Emperor Temple" plaque, but locals thought the gate was misplaced, so during the last renovation, it was sealed with bricks and the gate was relocated to its current position, forming today’s layout.
The existing Crown Prince Hall, a Yuan Dynasty building, has a hipped roof. Inside, it features a unique beamless hall structure formed by an octagonal caisson ceiling composed of two layers of paving, creating a stunning lotus-like dome. This architectural style is distinctive among surviving Yuan Dynasty buildings and is a masterpiece of beamless halls from that era, with extremely high artistic value.
The stone column bases of the mountain gate from the Qing Dynasty are exquisitely carved, and the wooden carvings such as the sparrow braces are vivid. The carved patterns mainly depict figures, mythology, and opera stories, interspersed with other auspicious motifs like seasonal flowers and symbols of fortune, prosperity, longevity, and happiness. In traditional sacrificial architecture, these auspicious patterns also reflect the residents’ hopes and aspirations for a better life.
The glazed roof decorations, ridge ornaments, and other features of Guzhongmiao’s buildings possess unique artistic vitality both in their conception and form, reflecting the wisdom of the Chinese nation and the superb craftsmanship of Chinese folk artisans.
The Crown Prince Hall uses the large cypress timber system commonly adopted in the Yuan Dynasty. The column height does not exceed the bay width, and the ratio of column height to paving height conforms to Yuan architectural characteristics. The beam structure of the Crown Prince Hall is complex and exquisitely crafted, holding great significance for studying Yuan Dynasty construction techniques and architectural art development.
Guzhongmiao preserves the essence of Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasty architecture. Its glazed tile work, brickwork, large timber construction, and painted decorations reflect the scientific and technological levels of each period. It is an important link and physical relic of local scientific and technological development, providing tangible evidence for studying the evolution of various engineering and construction techniques. It is a rare site for scientific research and a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.