Bofang Xianweng Temple | The only imperial Fengshan painting in the country

| The only imperial Fengshan painting in the country. Bofang Xianweng Temple, located in Bofang Village, Gaoping City, Shanxi Province, is also known as Zongsheng Xianweng Temple. Upon arrival, the entrance seems very ordinary. The temple consists of a single courtyard, with the mountain gate, Jade Emperor Tower, Offering Hall, and Xianweng Hall aligned along the central axis. There are side halls on the east and west sides. The mountain gate has three bays in width and two stories. The first floor serves as a passageway, while the second floor is a reverse theater stage, which is quite common in Shanxi. There is a bell and drum tower on each side of the mountain gate. The music tower has three bays in both width and depth, with a square plan and a single-eave hip roof. The corridor connects to the Offering Hall, with many beams. Standing in front of the main hall offers a very deep perspective. Both ends of the beam structure have wooden carvings, but the columns are steel, lacking some ancient charm. The main hall is the Xianweng Hall, also known as the Zhang Guolao Shrine. It has five bays in width and six rafters in depth. The glazed ridge decorations on the hall's roof include dragons, phoenixes, and floral patterns. Due to the close distance between the main hall and the Offering Hall, it needs to be observed from the side. The beam structure under the eaves has exquisite paintings and wood carvings. The most noteworthy aspect of the main hall is the "Tang Taizong's Fengshan at Mount Tai" murals on the east and west sides. This is the only imperial Fengshan mural in the country, suspected to be from the Yuan Dynasty. The west wall depicts the scene of Tang Taizong's Fengshan at Mount Tai, while the east wall shows the return scene after the Fengshan ceremony. Both scenes are grand, with floating canopies and staggered figures, well portrayed. The overall color scheme is mainly yellow, green, and red, with small areas of pink. The group portraits have clear primary and secondary distinctions, with many details. The upper parts of the east and west sides also depict some representative deeds of Zhang Guolao. Unlike other murals, the cloud patterns in the Xianweng Temple murals are very detailed, with very intricate curves. The north wall features the "Daoist Chaoyuan Painting," with some scenes blocked by statues, including an image of Zhang Guolao riding a donkey. The beams and rafters inside the hall are painted with golden dragons. After viewing the murals, the mood is quite complex. There are many issues with the mural's condition, but no one is repairing them, giving a feeling of seeing less with each glance. Although the Xianweng Temple is not large, it has many details worth exploring slowly. There is also the Patriarch Pavilion nearby, which can be visited as well. Practical Information: Tickets 🎫: Free Opening hours: Most likely accessible, communicate with the cultural preservation staff.