The murals alone are worth a special trip to Jishan

After visiting the Machun Brick Carved Tomb, there is a nationally protected temple hidden on the nearby hill, which is Qinglong Temple. Qinglong Temple was first built in the second year of the Longshuo era of Emperor Gaozong of Tang (662 AD). It is an official temple that, after experiencing the Hedong earthquake in the seventh year of the Yuande era of the Yuan dynasty, was rebuilt multiple times and ultimately preserved. Today, Qinglong Temple faces north to south and consists of two courtyards, front and back. Among the existing buildings, the middle hall, the Mahavira Hall, and the side halls are Yuan dynasty relics, while the rest were rebuilt during the Ming dynasty. However, compared to these buildings, what amazes visitors most are the murals. Murals are preserved in the middle hall, the main hall, and the Jialan Hall, with the middle hall murals being the most spectacular. Their preservation is thanks to Qinglong Temple having served as the Machun School in earlier years, which helped it avoid various disasters. Compared to the famous murals of Yongle Palace, the murals of Qinglong Temple are like a recluse; there are no noisy tourists, only walls filled with the essence of art spanning six hundred years, quietly waiting for those who understand them. Unfortunately, when I visited, the major renovation of Qinglong Temple was not yet complete, so the photos were taken at the Yuncheng Museum. The most distinctive feature of Qinglong Temple murals is that they are Shui-Lu paintings combining Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, reflecting the syncretism of folk beliefs during the Yuan and Ming dynasties. Taking the most famous middle hall murals as an example, the west wall depicts the "Three Buddhas" and "Worshiping Buddha" scenes, grand and solemn. Due to roof leaks, much of the east wall is unrecognizable, but it still mainly features Taoist deities such as Wangxian Shengmu, Tianyou Deputy Marshal, Sanjijia General, Wilderness General, River and Huai Ji Gods, Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning Gods, Five Mountain Emperors, and the Twenty-Eight Mansions Star Lords. The figures’ flowing robes give them an ethereal, immortal aura. The south and north walls are more mixed, mainly depicting Buddhist figures such as the Eight Great Wisdom Kings, the Ten Kings of the Underworld, and the Sixteen Arhats, with strong, vigorous lines and powerful images that create a striking visual impact. But looking closely at the lower part of the south wall, many Confucian figures can be seen. According to records, there are 8 groups totaling 41 secular figures, with more than a dozen easily identifiable, such as Emperor Taizong of Tang Li Shimin, who founded the prosperous Kaiyuan era; Confucius, who taught the world and cultivated seventy-two disciples; Zhuge Liang, the wise strategist who helped Liu Bei restore the Han dynasty; as well as Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Wen Tianxiang, Su Wu, and Emperor Shun’s wives Ehuang and Nuying. Although their area is not large, their strong characterization makes them stand out uniquely among the predominantly Buddhist and Taoist figures in the murals. Unfortunately, the middle hall murals were stolen and sold in the 1920s. Fortunately, the murals were discovered by villagers during transportation after being cut into pieces. Except for a small portion that was taken away and remains missing, most were recovered and restored by villagers who hired experts. Therefore, the cut marks and repair traces are still clearly visible on the murals today. 🏠Name | Qinglong Temple, Jishan 🎫Ticket | 20 RMB ⛳Address | Machun, Jishan County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province