Jiexiu Dongyue Temple: Glazed Splendor and Architectural Wisdom of a Yuan Dynasty Ancient Temple

🌟 Architectural Highlights Explained
Jiexiu Dongyue Temple, a national key cultural relic protection unit hidden in Xiaojin Village, Mianshan Town, Jiexiu City. The temple faces south, was built before the Yuan Dynasty, and underwent multiple renovations during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The existing complex has a rigorous layout.
•Offering Hall: Passing through the opera stage, the most striking feature is the Offering Hall. Its gable and hip roof structure, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof porch at the front, is unique in form. The roof is adorned with yellow, blue, and green glazed tiles, shimmering under the sunlight. The hall body is built on a "T-shaped" brick platform, surrounded by a bluestone balustrade, allowing for a close look at its five-step, double-eave dougong brackets and exquisite carvings.
•Main Hall: Behind the Offering Hall is the majestic Main Hall. This hall features a double-eave hip-and-gable roof, and its ridge decorations are particularly splendid, with treasure vase pavilions and mounted warriors all adorned with peacock blue glazed tiles, appearing noble and mysterious under the clear blue sky. Inside the hall are existing Ming and Qing Dynasty painted sculptures, including Emperor Dongyue and eight other deities.

🎨 Painted Sculptures and Historical Relics
•Painted Sculptures and Murals: In addition to the painted sculptures in the Main Hall, the East and West side halls (wing rooms) are also brick-built cave-dwelling style structures, containing over ten Ming and Qing Dynasty painted sculptures. Exquisite murals are also preserved in the temple's mountain gate, Main Hall, and Sleeping Hall.
•Ancient Cypresses and Steles: The temple courtyard once had towering ancient cypresses. There are currently over ten or seventeen steles, which are important materials for studying the temple's history.
📝 Travel Tips
•Address: Xiaojin Village, Mianshan Town, Jiexiu City, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province.
•Transportation: It is recommended to drive yourself. Navigate to "Jiexiu Dongyue Temple" or "Xiaojin Dongyue Temple". Please drive carefully on rural roads.
•Duration of Visit: A thorough visit takes approximately 1-2 hours.
•Note: Please protect cultural relics; do not touch the painted sculptures and murals.

Post by Evelyn.Perry@73 | Nov 5, 2025