Impressions of Pingyao, Shanxi.

Zhen Guo Temple - Historical Origin: Zhen Guo Temple is located in Hao Dong Village, 15 kilometers north of Pingyao County. It was originally named "Jing Cheng Temple". According to the temple stele and ink inscriptions in the temple, it was established in the 7th year of the Tian Hui period of the Northern Han Dynasty during the Five Dynasties (963 AD). At that time, it was the period of war and chaos of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, and Buddhism still had a certain development in the northern region. The establishment of Zhen Guo Temple provided an important place for the spread and development of Buddhism. - Development History: - Jin Dynasty: In the 3rd year of the Tian De period of the Jin Dynasty (1151 AD), Zhen Guo Temple was partially repaired. - Yuan and Ming Dynasties: Using the temple's open space, the Shan Men Tian Wang Hall and two bell towers were built in the front, and the San Fo Lou, Guan Yin Hall, Di Zang Hall, and east and west corridor rooms were built in the back, which continuously expanded the scale of the temple. - Qing Dynasty: During the Yong Zheng, Qian Long, and Jia Qing periods, Zhen Guo Temple was repaired and renovated many times. From the 21st to the 30th year of the Guang Xu period of the Qing Dynasty (1895 - 1904), Zhen Guo Temple moved the San Ling Hou Temple and Cai Shen Temple from other places to the north of the temple's stele pavilion, which basically formed today's layout. - Important Status: On May 24, 1965, Zhen Guo Temple was listed as a provincial key cultural relics protection unit; in 1988, it was announced by the State Council as a national key cultural relics protection unit; on December 3, 1997, Zhen Guo Temple was listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site along with the Ancient City of Pingyao and Shuang Lin Temple; in 2007, it was rated as a 4A tourist attraction. Shuang Lin Temple - Historical Origin: Shuang Lin Temple is located in the north of Qiao Tou Village, Zhong Du Township, Pingyao County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province. As for its origin, it is now speculated to be between the Northern Wei Dynasty and the Wu Ping period of the Northern Qi Dynasty (386 - 571 AD). First, because Shuang Lin Temple was originally named "Zhong Du Temple", and its selected location was Zhong Du County, which was set up at the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty; second, since Buddhism was introduced to Pingyao during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 - 534 AD), the temple is very Buddhist; third, according to the stone stele in the temple, the temple was rebuilt in the 2nd year of the Wu Ping period of the Northern Qi Dynasty (571 AD). - Development History: - Northern Song Dynasty: Due to the saying of "Shuang Lin Enters Nirvana" after Sakyamuni's death, the two trees bloomed with white flowers, "Zhong Du Temple" was renamed "Shuang Lin Temple". - Ming and Qing Dynasties: The prosperity of the commodity economy laid the foundation for the manufacture of colored sculptures. Shuang Lin Temple developed to its peak and was repaired many times, such as the large-scale reconstruction of the Da Xiong Bao Dian and Fo Mu Dian from the Jing Tai to Zheng De periods of the Ming Dynasty (1450 - 1521 AD). However, Shuang Lin Temple has suffered from fires many times, and the remaining relics are mostly from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. - Modern Times: During the Republic of China period, Shuang Lin Temple suffered serious damage; after the founding of the People's Republic of China, it served as a school, which reduced historical remains; during the Cultural Revolution, it served as a local granary and was deeply mired in the "Destroy the Four Olds" campaign. - Important Status: Shuang Lin Temple is known at home and abroad for its exquisite colored clay sculptures, and is known as the "Treasure House of Oriental Colored Sculpture Art". It is also called a "true and unique treasure" by UNESCO. On May 24, 1965, it was listed as a key cultural relics protection unit in Shanxi Province; in 1988, it was designated as a national key cultural relics protection unit; in 1997, it was listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site; in 2005, it was rated as a national 4A tourist attraction.