[2024 Hongtong Attraction] Travel Guide for Shuishen Temple (Updated Oct)
Memorial Temples
Address:
Source of Huoquan, Hongdong County, Shanxi 041600
Opening times:
Opens at 8:00-17:00Open
Phone:
0357-5565533
Reconstruction, rebirth, and another story - Linfen Guangsheng Lower Temple Water God Temple.
The Guangsheng Lower Temple has a Water God Temple next to it. According to records, it was built in the Tang Dynasty and was destroyed by war in the Jin Dynasty. The reconstruction of this Water God Temple was completed in the 20th year of the Yuan Dynasty (1283 AD). The craftsmen at that time would not know that in January of that year, the unyielding prime minister of the Southern Song Dynasty was executed in Dadu. Twenty years later, in the seventh year of Dade, on August 6, 1303 AD, an 8.0-magnitude earthquake occurred in Pingyang, southern Shanxi, which is now Linfen, and the temple was almost completely destroyed. Two years later, in the ninth year of Dade (1305), the Water God Temple began to be rebuilt. This reconstruction project was not completed until the sixth year of Yanyou (1319 AD).
705 years ago, the Water God Temple, which was rebuilt again, ushered in the first sacrificial ceremony. The gods and elders in the hall manipulated mysterious rituals. They remembered the story of Tang Wang passing by Pingyang when he raised his troops and prayed for the blessing of the gods. They were grateful for the grace of the Huoquan Water God. They used "dressing in front of the mirror, playing chess, pounding pills, and selling fish to form a homophonic positive: respect (mirror) pray (chess) for (ball) rain (fish), and pay tribute to the water god.
At this time, the stage outside the hall was led by the then popular "star" Zhongdouxiu, starring Qiaoji, Baipu, Zheng Guangzu and others who had recently written new plays.
The sacrificial ceremony was solemn and complete, and the performance was a great success. The leading actor Zhongdouxiu led all the actors to bow and thank you. A game of rewarding the gods is about to end. The painter recorded the sacrificial ceremony more than 700 years ago and the most successful performance, which became the eternity on the wall and the most memorable moment in the history of drama!
Daniel Lewis Samuel
Guangsheng Temple - Water God Temple｜Journey to Ancient Buildings in Southern Shanxi
📍Attraction Address:
Inside Guangsheng Temple, Hongdong County, Linfen, Shanxi
🚗Transportation:
From Hongdong West Station🚄, take bus🚌 No. 26 to the city center, then transfer to bus🚌 No. 21 or 22, get off at the terminal station, the station is directly opposite Wanghong Hotel🏨, turn left⬅️ at the intersection to the entrance of the lower temple of the scenic area, the first thing you see on the left is the Water God Temple, the entrance and the lower temple are at the same place.
👍️Must-visit Attraction:
The Water God Temple🐱 is a customary sacrificial temple for worshiping the God of Huo Spring. The overall architecture includes the mountain gate, the ceremonial gate, and the Mingying King Hall.
The Mingying King Hall is located on a high platform and is a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof building🏘️. Outside the hall, there are two tall and majestic door god statues, and door god paintings are also drawn on the outer wall, giving a solemn appearance.
Under the eaves on the side of the hall, there are several stone tablets🪦 recording the repairs of the hall over the generations. Behind the hall, there is a large wooden beam, about the thickness of two people embracing.
The essence of the hall is the Yuan Dynasty murals. The drama murals on the south wall are the only large-scale Yuan Dynasty drama🎭 murals existing in China🇨🇳, and they were once included in the textbook📗 "Chinese History".
🎟️Ticket Information:
The attraction is included in the Guangsheng Temple ticket🎫, online adult tickets are 68 yuan, and discounted tickets are 35 yuan.
💗Other Tips:
The essence of the Water God Temple is in the Mingying King Hall. The lighting inside the hall is very dim, and photography📷 is not allowed, so it is best to bring a cold light flashlight.
The Water God Temple and the neighboring lower temple share the same entrance and exit. There is a souvenir shop at the exit, and there is a self-service machine for purchasing Guangsheng Temple commemorative coins🪙 outside the Mingying King Hall. The commemorative coins💰 are quite beautiful.