[2025 Zhangzi Attraction] Travel Guide for Faxing Temple (Updated Mar)

Preview My second trip to Shanxi, I chose Jindongnan Weekend trip (2 days) Day 1 Changzhi Guanyin Temple Changzhi Changzi County Chongqing Temple Changzhi Changzi County Faxing Temple Jincheng Gaoping Kaihua Temple Day 2 Jincheng Gaoping Tielu Temple Jincheng Zezhou Yuhuang Temple Jincheng Zezhou Qinglian Temple This trip is the best place to see painted sculptures Transportation: Study tour, bus

👈🏻 Faxing Temple is a must-see temple when visiting Changzhi. It was first built in the 2nd year of the Kaiyun period of the Later Jin dynasty of the Five Dynasties (945), and was rebuilt in the 4th year of the Yuanfeng period of the Northern Song dynasty (1081) after years of change. It was repaired many times during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. 👈🏻 The original site of Faxing Temple was located in the mining area of Cilinshan Coal Mine. In the mid-to-late 20th century, the foundation subsided, the walls cracked, and the beam structure was severely deformed. To protect the cultural relics, the cultural relics department moved the entire temple to Cuiyun Mountain in 1984, and the Yuanjue Hall was also relocated and rebuilt. This was done to protect the cultural relics. Highlights 1️⃣ Tang dynasty stone stupa: Also known as the "stone hall," it is made of sandstone slabs. The tower is square-shaped, with a double-eave pavilion style. The tower eaves are stacked in three layers, and the interior is composed of a square caisson. The four slopes are covered with purlins and rafters, and the eaves are supported by brackets, with a spire and a jewel top at the four corners. The lower layer can be circled around, so it looks like a tower but not a tower, like a hall but not a hall. It is a unique existence among the ancient towers in China! Highlights 2️⃣ Song dynasty painted sculptures: The Yuanjue Hall, built in the 4th year of the Yuanfeng period of the Northern Song dynasty, has statues of the 12 Bodhisattvas. The 12 Bodhisattvas are evenly arranged, sitting on waist-high altars, with free forms and calm expressions. The hair of the Bodhisattvas can still be seen, and the clothing is simple and elegant, with a soft and delicate texture. Every detail reveals the ingenuity of Song dynasty craftsmen. The Song dynasty painted sculptures in the Yuanjue Hall are the most precious part, praised by art historians as the "crown of Song dynasty Bodhisattva sculptures" and "a unique Oriental painted sculpture." These painted sculptures vividly demonstrate the superb level of Song dynasty sculpture art! Highlights 3️⃣ Yuanjue Hall: The hall is a typical Song dynasty architectural style, with a clear structure, regular materials, and a simple and grand shape, representing the high level of Song dynasty temple architecture. The hall is three bays wide, six rafters deep, with a single-eave hip roof. 👈🏻 Faxing Temple is currently free to visit. Not far away is another must-see temple, Chongqing Temple, which is a must-visit. For those who love ancient architecture and painted sculptures, Faxing Temple is a must-visit!

Faxing Temple, the original site is located in the Cilin Mountain depression in Zhangzi County, and was built in the first year of the Shen Ding period of the Later Liang Dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period (401 AD). The current site is located on Cui Zhuang Cuiyun Mountain in Cilin Town, southeast of Zhangzi County, Shanxi Province, covering an area of 40,000 square meters. In 1984, the Faxing Temple relocation and reconstruction project broke ground, and the reconstruction project was completed in October 1996. Faxing Temple faces south, and the existing layout is characterized by the Tang Dynasty. The sutra building and the pagoda are in front of the hall. The central axis is lined with the mountain gate, the stupa, the Yuanjue Hall and the Bodhisattva Hall, and the two sides are the Guan Gong Hall, the Jialan Hall and the Stele Gallery. There are 6 stone pagodas in the temple, all of which are relics of the Tang Dynasty. There are 17 existing inscriptions from the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, which record the history of the temple and the establishment of the temple. The stupa, also known as the stone hall, was built in the fourth year of Xianheng in the Tang Dynasty (673 AD) and was constructed entirely of sandstone slabs. The whole shape is like a tower but not a tower, like a hall but not a hall. It is a unique example of the existing Tang Dynasty ancient pagodas in China. The burning lamp tower was built in the eighth year of the Tang Dynasty (773 AD), and the whole body was built of bluestone, small and exquisite, with an ancient shape, also known as the Changming lamp and the lamp tower. According to relevant records, there are only three burning lamp towers in the shape of a sutra tower in China. The beautiful shape and exquisite carving are its external beauty, and the reasonable windproof function is its internal skill. It is said that the burning lamp lights the Buddha lamp, no matter the wind blows from the east, west, south, or north, the Buddha lamp will never go out. The name of the Changming lamp comes from this, which is a unique feature of Faxing Temple. In 1988, Faxing Temple was announced by the State Council as the third batch of national key cultural relics protection units. Faxing Temple

Changzhi, as Su Shi said, "Shangdang has always been the ridge of the world." It is not only the backbone of the natural landscape of the Taihang Mountains, but also a fertile ground for history and humanity. The following is a classic ancient visiting route that I have taken several times. Let’s appreciate the beauty of Shanxi’s ancient architecture together. Since most of the colorful sculptures of ancient buildings are scattered in the mountains and countryside of Shanxi, public transportation is extremely inconvenient. In addition, I have high requirements for flexibility in my itinerary, so I chose Didi to charter a car for this trip. The driver was waiting downstairs on time before departure. Help me place the big and small shooting equipment, and set off after confirming the destination! 📍Starting from Changzhi City, the first stop: Guanyin Hall (Pictures 3, 8, 9 One of the shooting locations of "Black Myth: Wukong", in the small hall, there are more than 500 hanging sculptures, which blend Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. They sit on the altar, stand against the gable wall, and hang between the rafters. They have different shapes. , dizzying. 📍Second stop, Faxing Temple (Pictures 6, 11, 12 The wooden buildings, colored sculptures, inscriptions, and colored glazes are integrated into the ancient building complex. It is known as the "Three Wonders of Faxing Temple". The Tang stone stupa, the burning lighthouse, and the Song Dynasty sculptures of the Twelve Yuanjue statues have long been famous. The graceful, peaceful and wonderful appearance is filled with compassionate and affectionate motherly love, and is praised by the art historian community as "the crown of the Song Dynasty sculpture Bodhisattva". The mountain roads are rugged, and since I don’t have to drive myself, I enjoy admiring the scenery outside the window and browsing the images I just took before arriving at Chongqing Temple. 📍The third stop, Chongqing Temple in Ziyun Mountain (Pictures 2, 4, 7 "The world doesn't know Chongqing Temple, there are two and a half Arhats in the world." Surrounded by mountains on three sides, it towers like a screen. It is also the filming location of "Black Myth: Wukong". The texture and skin of each of the Eighteen Arhats sculpted in the Song Dynasty have remained intact for nearly a thousand years, and they surround the three great warriors with different expressions. The hanging sculptures of the Ten Emperors Hall are also the epitome of Ming Dynasty craftsmanship. The brightly colored pavilions and pavilions are all amazing. 📍The last stop, Wufeng Tower (Pictures 1, 5, 10 It was about 20 kilometers from our last destination to Wufenglou. I chatted with the master on the way. The master drove very steadily along the way. When he got tired from chatting, he would squint for a while. He is a stable middle-aged man, and his car is very clean. He cooperated with my route throughout the whole journey, making the trip to ancient times super smooth. We arrived at Wufeng Tower in time for sunset, during the blues moment with excellent shooting effects. Four-cornered wings fly and five phoenixes spread their wings. There are surprises here that cannot be seen elsewhere: 1️⃣. Mulberry trees are deciduous trees, and the wood is rough and difficult to become useful. However, Wufeng Tower has a 7.13-meter-high mulberry wood ladder, which is more than 500 years old. 2️⃣. Jingmu beams, deciduous shrubs in the mountains, have messy branches and are difficult to form the main trunk. However, the north and south beams on the second floor of Wufeng Tower are two 7.39-meter-long wattle trees. The average age of the trees is more than 400 years old. It is difficult to find a third one even if you search all over the world. I am very happy to explore Changzhi’s historical and cultural monuments with you. The above is a classic guide for visiting ancient times in the Zhuozhang River Valley. I hope it can help you.

In the ancient charm of Jin Dongnan, I embarked on a journey through the time of the Tang and Song dynasties. 🚶‍♂️🏰 Faxing Temple, this name echoes in the long river of history. It is not just a temple, but a cultural heritage. 📍【Visit Changzhi Faxing Temple】 Address: Cuiyun Mountain, Cuizhuang Village, Cilin Town, Changzi County, Changzhi City Ticket: Only 15 yuan to appreciate the thousand-year-old Tang and Song charm Opening hours: 9:00 - 11:30; 14:00 - 17:30 🚗【Travel Tips】 - Free parking, but you need to walk to the temple gate along the long steps, feeling the weight of history. 🏰【Historical Overview】 - Built in the Northern Wei Dynasty, it has gone through the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, with each generation leaving its mark. From Cilin Temple to Guangde Temple, and then to Faxing Temple, each renaming is a witness to history. 🏯【Temple Layout】 - The original site was relocated to the southern slope of Cuiyun Mountain due to geological changes. It is situated by the mountain and water, facing north to south, with a two-entry courtyard. Every step on the central axis echoes history. 👀【Must-See Highlights】 1️⃣ Tang Dynasty Stone Relic Pagoda - A unique piece among unique pieces, a square two-story stone pagoda, each stone slab tells the story of the Tang Dynasty. 2️⃣ Tang Dynasty Lantern Pagoda - An octagonal single-story stone pagoda, with auspicious beasts, inscriptions, and doors and windows, every detail showcases the exquisite craftsmanship of Tang Dynasty sculpture. 3️⃣ Yuanjue Hall and Song Dynasty Sculptures - Rebuilt in the Song Dynasty, imitating the Song Dynasty reconstruction, the cycle of history is reflected here. 22 colored sculptures, each one is awe-inspiring, especially the Water-Moon Guanyin, with its elegant posture and serene expression, as if it can transcend time and space. 📸【Special Tips】 - You can take photos now! 🎉 Capture the thousand-year-old ancient charm with your camera!

Similarly located in the coal mining area of Changzi County, Changzhi, Faxing Temple is well-known and was relocated to its current site due to coal mining. Above the 60 steps, there are the Three Wonders inherited from the Tang and Song dynasties: The first wonder is the Relic Pagoda, built during the Tang dynasty, with its body entirely constructed from sandstone slabs, simple and unadorned, with few carvings, and not tall or beautiful in shape. The second wonder is the Lamp-Lighting Pagoda, protected by a glass cover, resembling the stone lamps commonly seen in temples, but this one is exquisitely designed and carved, said to be one of the three remaining stone lamps from the Tang dynasty in China. It is said that the Lamp-Lighting Pagoda, when lit with a Buddha lamp, will never extinguish regardless of whether the wind blows from the east, west, south, or north, hence it is known as the 'Ever-Bright Lamp.' The third wonder is the most beautiful set of Song dynasty colored sculptures of the Twelve Yuanjue Figures. The 12 Yuanjue Bodhisattvas have nearly identical female features, with the same style of makeup and clothing, yet each has a distinct posture, embodying both the plumpness of the Tang and the elegance of the Song, conveying a sense of transparency between heaven and earth, and a calm and leisurely spirit, matching the term 'Yuanjue.' This group of sculptures is also acclaimed as the crown of Song dynasty Bodhisattva sculptures. Personally, I feel that these sculptures, along with those of the Song dynasty maidservants at Jinci Temple, share a similar temperament—delicate, pure, restrained, and subdued—or perhaps, this is the cultural tone of the entire Song dynasty. Faxing Temple

Hidden ancient temple in the deep mountains, green trees surround the red walls, the thousand-year-old Faxing Temple, the town has 'three absolutes'. Faxing Temple is the highest level, largest scale, and highest research and ornamental value of ancient temple buildings in Changzhi City. The Tang Stone Relic Tower, the Burning Lamp Tower, and the Song Sculpture Twelve Round Enlightenment in the temple are known as 'Faxing Three Absolutes'. Stepping into the mountain gate of Faxing Temple, the first thing that catches your eye is a relic tower. The lower layer of the stone tower has grooves, murals on all four walls, the upper layer is a double-eave pavilion-style building, with four corners gathered at the top, bead necklaces collected at the top of the tower, and the relief in the caisson is exquisite, and the figures in the murals are dignified. The overall shape of the tower is quite peculiar, it looks like a 'four unlike' like a tower but not a tower, like a hall but not a hall, like a building but not a building, like a fort but not a fort. The tower is also known as the 'Stone Hall', which is made of sandstone. The tower is small on the top and large on the bottom. It has the staggered beauty of the tower: square and square, and the upright beauty of the hall. The two layers also have the layered beauty of the tower and building. It can be said to gather the beauty of the tower, hall, building, and fort in one, which is unique in our country's ancient towers. It is a unique example of Tang towers in our country, which is precious and is the 'first absolute' of Faxing Temple. Behind the relic tower is a burning lamp tower also known as the 'ever-burning lamp'. The absolute beauty lies in its exquisite structure, fine carving, ancient and beautiful, it is the perfect carrier of stone carving art in the Tang Dynasty, and it is also the most exquisite, finest carving, and best preserved among the only three Tang Dynasty stone lamps in our country. On the octagonal base of the tower, a begonia Sumeru seat is placed, the tower body is covered with eight slopes and eight corners gathered at the top, carved with four doors and four windows hollow room, the corner column is carved into a waist lotus group column, the bucket arch supports the tower eaves, the column is connected by the railing and the flat board hang, and there are 8 musicians, lifelike: the tower is a mountain flower banana leaf bead style In addition to these external beauties, its reasonable windproof function is the inner cleverness. No matter what direction the wind is from, the Buddha lamp will never go out. It is truly deserved, and it is the 'second absolute' of Faxing Temple. The Round Enlightenment Hall is the main building of Faxing Temple. The Buddhist scriptures mention that the Twelve Round Enlightenment is the 12 disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni. 'Round Enlightenment' means 'full enlightenment', which means that it is about to become a Buddha. The Song Dynasty Twelve Round Enlightenment colored statues in the Round Enlightenment Hall are the third absolute. Although the Round Enlightenment statues in the hall were originally molded in the first year of the Northern Song Dynasty's Zhenghe (1111), they inherited the charm of Tang art everywhere. They are high-bun and beautiful eyebrows, full of vitality, bold and elegant, plump but not beautiful, fat but not bloated, the beauty of the Tang Dynasty's 'plump' and the Song Dynasty's 'delicate' state, here through the ancient clay sculptor's wise hands, they are fully and appropriately expressed, truly showing the Buddhist mood of 'the beginning of the right awakening is round'. Please stop and take a close look, some are stepping on the lotus seat with their left foot, supporting their cheeks with their left hand, their eyes slightly closed in thought, quiet and elegant, their expressions overflow from their eyebrows and flow to their corners of their mouths: some have their arms slightly bent and half-raised forward, their fingers are elegantly shaped, their ribbons are draped over their bodies, their lines are extremely changeable, and they have a sense of rhythm... The treasures in the art of Eastern clay sculpture are amazing! It is the 'third absolute' of Faxing Temple, and it is also the most amazing.

The front hall of Faxing Temple, also called Yuanjue Hall, is the largest building in the temple. It was built in the third year of Yuanfeng in the Song Dynasty (1066 AD). The hall is about 8 meters high. The stone door frames, lattice windows and frames are all supported by stone and wooden pillars. The brackets and fat eaves are lifted into the air. The heat is extraordinary, vigorous and solemn. The top is six rafters hanging from the top of the mountain, with five ridges and six animals. The bluestone wall on the front eaves is engraved with animal and lotus patterns, which are detailed, vivid and powerful. 1⃣️Most of the 18 Buddha statues in the hall are clay sculptures from the Song Dynasty. In the hall, there is a stone Buddha platform with the word "concave". The central Buddha platform has the main image of Sakyamuni Buddha on the front. On both sides from the inside to the outside, there are two disciples (Venerable Ananda, Venerable Kassapa), two Bodhisattvas (Manjushri, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva) and the Two Good Gods (commonly known as the "Two Generals of Humha"). 2⃣️There are 12 Yuanjue statues erected against the walls on both sides. The entire set of works was made by "sculptor: Feng Zongben; painter: Chen Daorong, Lu Rong" in the first year of Zhenghe in the Northern Song Dynasty (1111 AD). The whole group of statues inherits the remnants of Tang Dynasty sculptures, and are plump, graceful and elegant. The charm of Song Dynasty sculptures is passed down, restrained and subtle, and the charm is vivid. They are either bare-chested or naked, with round faces, high buns and beautiful eyebrows, solemn and handsome expressions, soft colors of clothing, and smooth and rhythmic clothing lines. In particular, the image of Yuan Jue, who holds his chin in one hand as if thinking, has an expression that overflows from the brows to the corners of the eyes, and the shape is graceful and lifelike. The group of Bodhisattva statues, with their wonderful and solemn appearance, not only shine with the brilliance of Buddha nature, but also are filled with compassionate and kind motherly feelings. They are praised by the art history circle as "the crown of Song sculpture Bodhisattva". faxing temple Ticket: 20 yuan Address: North of Provincial Road 227, Changzi County, Changzhi, Shanxi Province, north of Cilinshan Coal Mine (bus station) is 1.4km, about 17 minutes' walk, you need to drive by yourself.

Faxing Temple is 20 kilometers southeast of Changzi County, with an altitude of 1,160 meters. Cilin Mountain. There is a famous Faxing Temple on the mountain. Faxing Temple was built in the first year of Shending of the Later Wei Dynasty (AD 401). It is said that there was a tall monk who traveled to Cilin Mountain and admired the Buddhist scenery here so much that he built the Cilin Temple on the mountain. In the first year of Shangyuan, Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Li Zhi went from Kaifeng to Taiyuan. On the way, he visited Cilin Temple, renamed it "Guangsheng Temple" and gave the temple two strong red flowers. During the reign of Emperor Yingzong of Song Dynasty, Emperor Zhao Shu changed Guangsheng Temple to "Faxing Temple". 1⃣️Faxing Temple has been in disrepair and has a dilapidated appearance. In addition, it is located in the main mining area of ​​Cilinshan Coal Mine. In the late 1970s, cracks appeared in the temple foundation, the temple was tilted, and the courtyard walls were deformed and some were collapsed or destroyed. Danger. Repeated investigations and studies by the county, city, provincial and central cultural relics departments confirmed that the original site of the Northern Wei Dynasty building could no longer be restored, so it was decided to relocate Faxing Temple to Cuiyun Mountain opposite. 2⃣️Stupa This tower plays an extremely important role in the development history of Faxing Temple. According to records, in the fourth year of Xianheng in the Tang Dynasty (AD 673), Li Yuanyi, the thirteenth son of Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty, King Zheng Hui, visited Faxing Temple when he was doing the history of Luzhou. Seeing the magnificent scenery, he spent a lot of money to expand and build the temple himself. A stone tower. He donated the 37 relics and Tripitaka he collected to the temple and kept them in this stone pagoda. The stone tower he presided over the construction of is still perfect and stands as before despite being exposed to wind and rain for thousands of years. The appearance of the pagoda is like a pagoda but not a pagoda. It looks like a palace but not a palace. It is unique among the existing ancient pagodas in my country. Unique. The whole body of the stupa is constructed of sandstone slabs, with a square plane and a double-eaves pavilion shape. It has a square caisson inside and a pointed orb roof at the four corners. There are murals on the four walls of the lower inner tank. The reliefs in the Baoding caisson are exquisite. The characters in the murals are dignified. The whole tower is very exquisite in shape. When the pagoda was built, it was during the Tang Dynasty when Buddhism was at its peak. King Zheng Hui gave the relics and the Tripitaka, which had a profound impact. Later generations called this place a blessed place, which brought about the rise of Dharma. 3⃣️Lighthouse The most beautiful thing about the burning lighthouse is its exquisite structure, fine carvings, elegance and beauty. It is the perfect bearer of the stone carving art in the prosperous Tang Dynasty. It is also the most exquisite in shape, the most exquisite in carving and the best preserved among the only three Tang Dynasty stone lanterns in China. A complete one. On the eight-sided base of the tower, there is a Begonia Xumizuo. The tower is covered with an eight-sloped and eight-cornered spire. It is carved with a hollow chamber with four doors and four windows. The corner pillars are carved into waist-shaped lotus cluster columns. There are brackets on top to support the eaves of the tower. There are railings between the columns. The forehead is connected to the flat square, and there are 6 musicians, which are lifelike; the pagoda is in the form of mountain flowers and banana leaves, and there are 12 animal shapes at the bottom, which are taken from the Classic of Mountains and Seas and represent the 12 heavens. It is said that the Buddhist lanterns lit in this pagoda will never go out regardless of the wind direction from north to south, which is the "second wonder" of Faxing Temple. 4⃣️Yuanjue Bodhisattva There are 12 Bodhisattvas on both sides of the Yuanjue Hall. Their shapes are lifelike, their expressions are very divine but slightly smiling, quiet and elegant, their expressions overflowing from the brows to the corners of the mouth; some have their arms slightly bent and half raised forward, with fingers shaped like Elegant, with colorful ribbons draped around the body, the lines are extremely varied and have a sense of rhythm. These clay sculptures were only partially recolored in the later period, but they still retain the aesthetics and form of the Song Dynasty. They are extremely beautiful and can be called the third masterpiece of Faxing Temple. faxing temple Ticket: 20 yuan Address: The north of Provincial Road 227, Changzi County, Changzhi, Shanxi Province is 1.4km away from Cilinshan Coal Mine (bus station). It takes about 17 minutes to walk and requires self-driving.

Faxing Temple, located in Changzhi, Shanxi, is a fascinating temple. Firstly, the fascination lies in the Tang stone stupa in the middle of the courtyard, which houses the Buddhist treasure - 37 Buddha relics; Secondly, the fascination lies in the Song Dynasty statues in the Yuanjue Hall, which are extremely exquisite. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed, and if you dare to take pictures, they will announce in the loudspeaker throughout the courtyard that photography is not allowed. As a result, only one photo was taken with the mobile phone (Figure 5); Thirdly, the entire courtyard building looks handsome from all angles. Figure 2 is the statue of the back hall, which is also a rare giant colored porcelain production. Special note: There is a rest at noon, lunch time.