Fanshi National Protected Three Saints Temple

Located in Xi Yankou Village, Shahe Town, Fanshi County, the Three Saints Temple is a must-visit site on the way to Yanshan Temple, Princess Temple, and Foguang Temple from the county town. Originally built during the Jin Dynasty, the temple underwent meticulous renovations and expansions during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, resulting in a compact yet well-preserved complex. The temple faces south and features a two-courtyard layout. Along the central axis stand the Mountain Gate, Ksitigarbha Hall, and Mahavira Hall, flanked by the Bell Tower and Drum Tower (both Qing Dynasty structures). The existing Mahavira Hall, a Yuan Dynasty construction, showcases intricate bracket sets with single-tiered corbels and oblique arches, along with a three-bay front porch and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. The hall's interior is fully exposed, and its six-paneled doors add to its grandeur. The connecting hall dates to the Ming Dynasty, while most other structures are from the Qing era. The Mahavira Hall's murals, initially painted during the Qianlong era and later retouched in the Jiaqing and Tongzhi periods, uniquely blend Buddhist narratives with Taoist and folk elements like the Goddess Magu and the Kitchen God. Symmetrically arranged Left and Right Three Shrines depict story scenes, with the Left Shrine's cracks marking an old theft passage where the Ksitigarbha statue's head was stolen. The temple's highlights lie within its halls, particularly the polychrome sculptures in the Ksitigarbha Hall. This three-bay hall bears a Tongzhi 9th-year inscription (1870) and features green-glazed eaves. Each column capital is adorned with vividly painted dragon-head clay sculptures, locally termed "Beast-head Columns" and academically known as "Dragon King Clay Masks," reflecting northern Shanxi's dragon-worship culture amid extreme droughts. Experts note the carvings' fusion of Jin and Yuan artistic styles, though some attribute them to Qing restorations—a style also seen in Guangji Temple, Wutai County. The Ksitigarbha Hall's beams are embellished with playful child sculptures amid grape motifs. Inside, the exquisitely crafted polychrome statues present striking contrasts: towering, solemn guardian deities alongside small, comical underworld attendants, often at a 1:2 size ratio. Notably, sculptures of Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang from *Journey to the West* also appear. The temple keeper proudly highlights the heavenly kings' meticulously painted beards—now irreplicable—with flowing strands that enhance their dignified, fair-skinned visages. Sadly, the original Yuan Dynasty wooden sculptures in the main hall were stolen in the 1990s; the current Huayan Triad statues, restored in 2001, pale in comparison. The temple grounds preserve precious artifacts, including steles and sutra pillars documenting its history and renovations. Despite weathering, their inscriptions remain legible, echoing the temple's past glory. 🏡 Address: Xi Yankou Village, Shahe Town, Fanshi County ⏰ Opening: Currently not publicly accessible; visits require coordination with the heritage custodian. 🚲 Transport: Self-driving 🚗 is recommended. Suggested itinerary: Combine visits to Three Saints Temple, Yanshan Temple, Princess Temple, Foguang Temple, and Wutai County's Guangji Temple, with overnight stays in Wutai County town.