[2024 Hunyuan Attraction] Travel Guide for Yong'an Temple (Updated Oct)
Historical Architectures
Address:
North Lane, Gulou, Hunyuan County, Shanxi 037400
Opening times:
Opens at 8:00-18:00Open
Recommended sightseeing time:
1-2 hours
Phone:
0352-8321964
Yong'an Temple
Yong'an Temple is located in the north lane of the Drum Tower in the northeast of Hunyuan County, Datong City, Shanxi Province. Yong'an Temple was first built in the Jin Dynasty and was later destroyed by fire. In the second year of Yuan Yan (1315), Yong'an Temple was rebuilt. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Yong'an Temple was repaired many times.
Yong'an Temple faces south with its back to the north. Along the central axis are the mountain gate, the Hall of Heavenly Kings, and the Dharma Orthodox Hall. The east and west side halls include the Guanyin Hall, the Jialan Hall, the Damo Hall, the Thunder God Hall, and the Guandi Hall.
The main hall of Yong'an Temple is the Dharma Orthodox Hall. There are murals of the Ten Great Ming Kings on the walls of the hall. Each one is lifelike, as if it is about to come out of the wall. The Water and Land Dharma Assembly is another highlight. This is the most grand Buddhist event in Buddhism, used to transcend the spirits and benefit all ghosts and gods on land and water. Looking at this painting, it seems to feel the solemnity and sacredness.
On June 25, 2001, Yong'an Temple was announced by the State Council as the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units.
OliverFitzgerald
Shanxi Datong | Take you into the world of immortals and Buddhas of the Yuan Dynasty
Shanxi Datong | Take you into the world of immortals and Buddhas of the Yuan Dynasty
This is Hunyuan Yong'an Zen Temple
Don't blink
In just one second, you can enter the world of immortals and Buddhas of the Yuan Dynasty
Intricate and exquisite murals of the Water and Land Dharma Assembly
(It is said to have originated in the Yuan Dynasty, but some say it was in the Ming Dynasty)
The colors are vivid and the characters are lifelike
The murals are well-preserved and highly appreciable
There are also the ten great wrathful deities of Tibetan Buddhism on the main wall
They are the core of the entire mural
The Fudo Myo-o (Acala) in P5 is the highlight
It looks fierce with glaring eyes and fangs, but reveals a compassionate face after tearing off the mask
.
The hall is dimly lit
It is impossible to see the murals on the walls with the naked eye
Fortunately, there are usually many guides in the hall
You can see some of the murals with the help of their cold light flashlights
It is recommended to hire a guide if you have time
You will find it absolutely worth it
.
This is not a mainstream travel destination
But I think it is worth a special visit
Most of the ancient buildings in Shanxi have relaxed their photo policies for tourists this year
I think this is a good thing
It promotes the positive spread of historical culture
Falling in love with Shanxi is just a matter of time
.
🎫 Ticket: 20 yuan/person
.
50Mitchell-~Elizabeth
Hiking to Datong Yong'an Zen Temple, encountering a thousand years of time
✨Dear friends, today I want to share with you an amazing hiking trip - hiking to Datong Yong'an Zen Temple!🎉
🌳As the first ray of morning sunlight shone on the earth, I packed my bag and embarked on the hiking journey to Datong Yong'an Zen Temple. Along the way, a gentle breeze brushed by, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance of flowers and the scent of soil, as if cheering me on for my journey.
🚶♂️Entering Yong'an Zen Temple, the ancient architecture and exquisite murals instantly caught my eye. The red walls of the temple, illuminated by the sunlight, appeared solemn and mysterious. I walked slowly along the path paved with bluestone, listening to the crisp chirping of birds, as if they were narrating the history of this ancient temple.
👣During the hike, I wandered between the halls, feeling the traces left by time. Every floor tile and every beam carried stories of the past. There was no city noise here, only inner peace and a dialogue with history.
🌈Standing at a high point in the temple, looking into the distance, the rolling mountains and the blue sky with white clouds formed a picturesque scene. At this moment, I was deeply moved by the beauty of nature and the cultural heritage of the ancient temple.
💕This hiking trip to Datong Yong'an Zen Temple was not only a physical exercise but also a spiritual cleansing. Here, I gained beautiful scenery, knowledge, and a deep respect for historical culture.
🙌Dear friends, if you also love hiking and historical culture, you must come to Datong Yong'an Zen Temple for a walk. I believe you will have a unique experience!💗
BDV. Nat 2202
The first day in Datong, truly amazing! Definitely worth a visit
Datong suddenly became popular, with architecture and cultural relics from the Northern Wei to the Ming and Qing dynasties dominating friends' circles with beautiful photos. If there's something you can't stop thinking about, there must be a response, so set off immediately, fly directly from Shanghai to Datong, land at Yungang Airport in 2.5 hours, and start a three-day journey in the ancient capital.
Day 1️⃣: Hanging Temple + Yong'an Zen Temple + Yuanjue Temple + Yingxian Wooden Pagoda
📌Hanging Temple🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Located in Hunyuan County, built during the Northern Wei Dynasty, suspended on a high cliff. It's hard to imagine that over a thousand years ago, ancient people built a complex of one courtyard, two buildings, and a total of 40 large and small pavilions on cliff walls as sharp as knives. From a distance, it looks like a relief sculpture ready to take flight, worthy of the 'magnificent' description left by the poet Li Bai. You must visit and experience the thrill and ingenuity of the Hanging Temple by climbing the hanging ladders, crossing the flying bridges, and squeezing through the skylights.
💰Ticket price: 15 yuan for distant viewing, 115 yuan to climb to the top
⏰Opening hours:
1️⃣08:30 - 16:00 (November 1st to February 28th of the following year)
2️⃣08:00 - 18:00 (March 1st to October 31st)
🚶Visiting time: 2 hours
📌Yuanjue Temple🌟🌟🌟
Located in the ancient city of Hunyuan at the foot of Mount Heng. The highlight of this temple is a brick pagoda from the Jin Dynasty. The wind bird at the top of the pagoda is the most exquisite and complete ancient wind direction indicator in China, still able to rotate with the wind after a thousand years. Unfortunately, Yuanjue Temple is currently under renovation, and the gatekeeper only allows distant viewing, missing the chance to closely appreciate the exquisite carvings on the pagoda.
📌Yong'an Zen Temple🌟🌟🌟🌟
Walking forward from the east alley of Yuanjue Temple, you will reach Yong'an Zen Temple, established for the salvation of spirits from all realms and the relief of souls in the six paths of reincarnation. Founded during the Jin Dynasty, destroyed by fire, and rebuilt during the Yuan Dynasty. The most worthwhile sight is the 'Yong'an Blessing Picture' in the main hall, said to be painted during the Ming Dynasty, depicting the Ten Kings and the assembly of immortals, Buddhas, and spirits from the three teachings. Due to the protection of the murals, there is no lighting, so you need to bring your own cold light flashlight or follow a guide to view.
💰Ticket price: 20 yuan
⏰Opening hours: 09:00-17:00
🚶Visiting time: 1 hour
📌Yingxian Wooden Pagoda🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
An hour's drive from Yong'an Zen Temple brings you to the city of Yingxian in Shuozhou, where the thousand-year-old Yingxian Wooden Pagoda stands. At 67.31 meters tall, nearly the height of a twenty-story building, it was built during the Liao and Qing Ming periods, advocated by Empress Dowager Xiao. The pure wooden structure of the pagoda is built without a single nail. It has withstood over 40 earthquakes, more than 200 shots and bombardments, and countless lightning strikes, yet it remains standing, a true miracle. Standing at the base of the pagoda and looking up, listening to the clear and distant chimes of the wind bells under the eaves, one can't help but be in awe of the sacred and magnificent epic architecture of that once brilliant era.
💰Ticket price: 50 yuan
⏰Opening hours: 07:00-18:00
🚶Visiting time: 1 hour
JetsetDiaries
Linji Ancient Temple | Yong'an Zen Temple | Hunyuan
|Yong'an Zen Temple| Hunyuan. Yong'an Zen Temple
The Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units
Detailed Address
He Shun North Road, Hunyuan County, Datong City, Shanxi Province
Cultural Relics Highlights
Hunyuan was announced as the second batch of provincial historical and cultural cities by the Shanxi Provincial People's Government in 1993, and there are many cultural relics and historic sites in the county.
The calligraphy, architecture, and murals of Yong'an Zen Temple are three major features.
Calligraphy
1 The plaque titled 'Hall of the Transmission of the Dharma's True Lineage' inscribed by Monk Xue'an
2 The two giant characters 'Solemn', signed 'Taiyuan Longshan Duan Shida', followed by the seals 'Duan Shida's Seal' and 'Longshan Yue Xi' (Yong'an Zen Temple abbot from 1315 to 1342).
3 The four characters 'Tiger's Roar and Dragon's Chant' written by Zhang Xuan during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty
4 Couplets The couplets in front of the main hall have three different readings. Additionally, the couplets on the West Drooping Flower Gate read: 'The Hall of the True Lineage where Buddha always resides, the Dharma of Yong'an Zen Temple forever endures,' which can also be read as: 'Buddha always resides in Yong'an Zen Temple, the Dharma forever endures in the Hall of the True Lineage.'
Architecture
1 The main hall is a Yuan Dynasty relic, and in September 1999, the Hall of the Transmission of the Dharma's True Lineage at Yong'an Temple underwent major repairs.
2 The hall is five bays wide and three bays deep, with architectural regulations that reflect the style of a royal monastery. The top center is covered with yellow glazed tiles, and the Hall of Heavenly Kings and the mountain gate with five pillars are also topped with yellow glazed tiles.
3 Yong'an Temple has five gates, which follow the same regulations as the Pagoda Temple in Wutai Mountain and Yong'an Temple in Beihai, Beijing.
4 The hall interior features reduced-column construction and thorough upper-bright construction
5 Octagonal caisson, hexagonal caisson, celestial palace pavilions
6 The wooden columns of the east and west side halls are relics from the Jin Dynasty
Murals
During the Yuan Dynasty, Buddhism was honored as the state religion, and Yong'an Temple incorporated elements of Tibetan Buddhism on the basis of the Linji sect monasteries. The murals can be divided into two parts. The images on the north wall depict the ten great Vidyarajas riding divine beasts, wielding the law, and protecting the Zen Dharma. The east, west, and south walls depict a grand scene of Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist deities from the three realms and ten directions, dressed in ceremonial attire, holding scepters, and paying homage to the Buddhist World Honored One. The content includes the Vidyarajas performing rituals, transforming into heavenly beings, Taoist transformation in all directions, turning into Buddha, eternal prosperity of Yong'an, profound virtue carrying all things, treasure of the void, and the long scroll of awakening.
The Vidyarajas performing rituals mural on the north wall includes 37 figures and 14 divine beasts and mounts, painted during the Yuan Dynasty, reflecting the typical 'thousand officials in procession' composition rule of the Yuan Dynasty. Notably, the Great Vidyaraja Acala reveals a kind and compassionate Buddha face by pulling apart the fierce and evil Vidyaraja mask, the only Vidyaraja to show his true face, which is also a unique feature of the Yong'an Temple murals.
The water and land dharma assembly murals on both sides employ a comparative painting method, that is, hiring two competing teams of painters. Although the overall appearance is similar, the painters on the east side pursue detail and beauty, while those on the west emphasize the whole and order.
Opening Hours
08:00-18:00
Admission Ticket
20 yuan
Transportation to the Site
Get off at the post office stop from Hunyuan Bus Station and walk there
Accommodation Nearby
Local accommodation is not expensive, around two hundred or so, I chose Hengshan Hotel
Dining
Hunyuan cold noodles are a local specialty
Parking Suggestions
There is a free parking lot on the left side of Yong'an Zen Temple
Guided Tour Service
200 yuan per group (1~10 people), high-quality explanation
Personal Experience
The water and land dharma assembly is overwhelming, leaving one unable to take it all in at once. Many people focus on the interior of the hall, but the calligraphy and architectural style outside are also rare gems, not to be missed. If you find the guided tour expensive, just tag along.
Contact Information (including but not limited to public accounts, websites, apps)
Public Account: Yong'an Temple
TranquilForest
Don't miss Yong'an Zen Temple! Admire the huge Yuan Dynasty murals up close
After visiting the Hanging Temple, head straight to the nearby Yong'an Zen Temple. Among the many ancient buildings and temples in Datong and its surroundings, Yong'an Zen Temple seems too low-key, but here you can enjoy the unique and huge Yuan Dynasty Shuilu (water and land) assembly murals up close! (To see the Ming Dynasty murals in Beijing's Fahai Temple, you need to make a reservation, and there are restrictions on the number of people and time.) Highlights:
1. The temple was originally built during the Jin Dynasty and rebuilt in the Yuan Dynasty. While most temples have one or three gates, Yong'an Temple's mountain gate has five openings, which is rare in Buddhist temples.
2. The four walls of the Chuanfa Zhengzong Hall are painted with heavy colors, gold leaf, and depictions of the Shuilu assembly and the ten great Ming kings (following the guide's UV flashlight, you can see the protruding gold leaf)
The total area of the murals reaches more than 180 square meters. The north wall is lined with the ten great Ming kings of Tibetan Buddhism, and the other three walls are divided into three layers, depicting the 'procession of humans and gods,' with a total of 882 Shuilu figures and 135 Shuilu stories. The characters are delicately portrayed, lifelike in form, and despite hundreds of years, the colors remain vibrant, giving a strong visual impact and artistic appeal.
Especially the fourth picture, where a Ming king tears off his mask to reveal kind and compassionate eyes... it is truly mysterious, eerie, and captivating. I feel that here one can see all the gods, Buddhas, bodhisattvas, immortals, demons, emperors, generals...
It is not easy for these murals to have been preserved so intact over hundreds of years, especially since in the 1960s, this place was used as a granary. Although the Buddha statues were removed from the hall, the murals were preserved (due to the need for mural protection, the light inside the hall is dim, but there are replicas of the murals in the eastern and western side halls, which can be appreciated more clearly).
CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY
At the foot of Mount Heng, there is also a hidden ancient temple from the Yuan dynasty
Yong'an Zen Temple is an extremely magnificent and spectacular group of classical buildings. The layout of the temple is neat, simple and spectacular, with majestic halls and exquisite murals. Locals also call it the 'Great Temple'.
Wyatt.Rivera.49
Echo@Datong Hunyuan, Yongle Zen Temple
Several years ago, I lost my soul here.
Now, revisiting the old place,
Although I still get goosebumps,
I felt a sense of melancholy when leaving.
The temple that was not open to the public back then
Now attracts many visitors.
There is also a professional guide,
And after listening to the detailed introduction of the murals,
I gained a new understanding.
The ten great Ming Dynasty kings depicted in the murals of the Mahavira Hall are:
The Buddha of the Great Sun Tathagata
The Buddha Amitabha of the West
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva
Horse-Headed Guanyin
Manjushri Bodhisattva
The Buddha Akshobhya of the East
Vairocana Bodhisattva (another name is Aksayamati)
The Buddha Ratnasambhava of the East
An emanation of Maitreya Bodhisattva
These ten great kings are depicted in the murals of Yong'an Temple with wrathful expressions, upright hair, three heads and six arms or eight arms, fierce faces, angry eyes, and bared fangs, but with kind hearts, aiming to educate sentient beings and exorcise demons.
The murals on the east and west sides, with 882 figures, blend Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism harmoniously with their vivid and natural expressions and gestures. It is a grand collection of Chinese religious deities and an extremely precious ancient painting masterpiece.
— Initial E