Shanhua Temple

(Image source: www.shanxichina.gov.cn)

Shanhua Temple, also called Southern Temple, is National Key Relics Protection Unit and is located on the southwest corner of downtown of Datong, Shanxi Province. It was built in Tang Dynasty and covers 20,000 square meters and still keeps the style of buildings of Tang Dynasty. The main buildings standing on the central axis faces south. They gradually expand to the back, which is also a gradually high in the back. The front is Mountain Gate and the middle one is Hall of Three sages. Both were built during the Jin Dynasty. Mahavira Hall handed down from Liao Dynasty stands on the high platform in the back and it’s the largest and most complete temples of Liao and Jin Dynasties.

The temple still houses some valuable historical relics: clay sculptures, wall paintings, tablet inscriptions, etc. Among these relics, the clay sculptures of Jin Dynasty are outstanding with appealing design, especially the statues of 24 Kings, there are men, women, the old, the young, the beautiful, the ugly, scholars, generals; some wearing Emperor’s dress; some taking officer’s dress; some being spare foot and leg and putting splendid clothes as if they are from India; some wearing armor, underneath of which is animal skin clothes against the cold in northern China. All of these are lively and infective. They are the treasures of the country.