Zhenguo Temple: The oriental architectural aesthetics code hidden in the ancient city

My dears, in addition to the ancient city of Pingyao, Zhenguo Temple is definitely a treasure attraction that you cannot miss! This is a thousand-year-old wooden structure without iron nails, a ceiling with colorful sculptures from the Five Dynasties, and a photo-taking paradise with few people and beautiful scenery... Even "Black Myth: Wukong" came here to film, and every shot is a historical blockbuster! Keep this guide and unlock the hidden oriental architectural aesthetics of Jinzhong! Zhenguo Temple·A time capsule that travels through thousands of years ▫️ The low-key "World Heritage" was built in the seventh year of Tianhui in the Northern Han Dynasty of the Five Dynasties (963 AD). It was originally named Jingcheng Temple and was renamed Zhenguo Temple during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. In 1997, it was listed on the World Cultural Heritage List together with Pingyao Ancient City and Shuanglin Temple, but because it is far away from the hustle and bustle of the ancient city, it remains a niche secret. ▫️ A textbook of wooden structure miracles. The entire temple building is spliced ​​with mortise and tenon joints, without any iron nails! The Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas is one of the oldest existing wooden structures in China. Its roof is supported by 12 eaves columns, with an eaves of nearly 3 meters. The brackets spread out like an umbrella. Its simple shape has remained stable for thousands of years, and it can be called the "ceiling of oriental architectural mechanics." ▫️ The swan song of Five Dynasties colored sculptures There are 11 Five Dynasties colored sculptures in the Wanfo Hall, the only one in the country that is completely preserved! The main Buddha Shakyamuni has a compassionate face, the Bodhisattvas dance in graceful robes, the warriors have angry eyes and are majestic, and even the details such as the nail patterns are clearly visible. The colored sculptures inherit the realistic style of the Tang Dynasty, and they are both realistic and vivid, and can be called "the frozen aftertaste of the prosperous Tang Dynasty" 🎫Tickets: 23 yuan, which can be purchased on site or booked online in advance. 🕙Opening hours: 08:00 - 18:00 🚗Transportation: If you are driving🚗, navigate directly to Zhenguo Temple If you choose public transportation🚌, you can first go to Pingyao Ancient City, and then take a rural bus to Zhenguo Temple from Pingyao Ancient City or take a taxi. It takes about 30 minutes by taxi. You can experience the local customs by taking the rural bus, but the number of buses may be less, so remember to plan your time in advance. 🏯 Must-visit guide 1️⃣ Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas: Five Dynasties wooden ceiling * Nail-free magic: The entire hall is only connected with mortise and tenon joints, and the seven-layer brackets are like blooming lotus flowers, with an eaves of nearly 3 meters. When the light and shadow fall, it seems to travel through thousands of years. * Treasure colored sculptures: 11 colored sculptures from the Five Dynasties stand quietly in the hall. The main Buddha, Sakyamuni, has a compassionate face, and the attendant Bodhisattvas dance in graceful robes. The details are so exquisite that even the nail lines are clearly visible. * Light and shadow aesthetics: On a sunny afternoon, the sun shines through the lattice windows onto the paintings. The mottled light and shadows come with filters, and you can take photos with your mobile phone! 📸 2️⃣ Heavenly King Hall: The rugged beauty of Yuan Dynasty architecture * Four Heavenly Kings: The 3-meter-tall guardian statues are angry and majestic, symbolizing "good weather and good harvests". The wide-angle shot gives a full sense of oppression. * Painted relics: The Yuan Dynasty painted patterns on the beams are still clear even though they have faded. The lotus patterns on the archways are simple and vivid. Remember to take photos from above to take details! 3️⃣ Ksitigarbha Hall & Guanyin Hall: Exquisite Ming and Qing Dynasty Architecture * Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva: The Ksitigarbha Hall on the west side of the backyard enshrines the Ten Kings of Hell. The murals depict cause and effect and reincarnation, full of mystery. * Secret camera position: The round hole door in the backyard frames a corner of the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas. The frame composition creates a sense of dialogue between ancient and modern times, which is niche and high-end! There is no noise here, only the thousand-year-old whispers of mortise and tenon joints and colored sculptures. If you are tired of the crowds in Pingyao Ancient City, you might as well come here and touch the true soul of oriental architecture!