Seeking the Hidden Ancient Temple - Anguo Temple

🌄 Seeking the Hidden Ancient Temple - Anguo Temple Address: Nestled about 1 kilometer west of Dujia Mountain Village in Lishi District, Lvliang City, Anguo Temple awaits your visit. 📜 Originally named Anji Temple, this place is not only a sacred site for cultivation but also the study place of Yu Chenglong, known as the 'First Honest Official.' The mountain breeze gently blows, and the sound of pine waves seems to tell stories of a thousand years. 🏛 Built in the 11th year of the Tang Zhenguan period (637 AD), it was renamed Anguo Temple in the 3rd year of the Song Jiayou period (1058 AD). It has been renovated throughout the dynasties, witnessing the vicissitudes of the Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. 🏰 Existing structures: The Mahavira Hall and the Copper Pagoda are treasures from the Ming Dynasty, while most of the other buildings were constructed during the Qing Dynasty. Facing north to south, the layout resembles a carpenter's square, with three main courtyards: the Buddha Hall Courtyard, the Yu Zhongcheng Public Shrine Courtyard, and the Laigong Villa Courtyard forming the main body of this ancient temple. 🌈 The Mahavira Hall, with five wide bays and three deep bays, features a single-eave gable roof, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient artisans. The murals, covering about 80 square meters, are meticulously painted in bright colors from the Qing Dynasty, with vivid and lifelike images. 🏗 The Copper Pagoda, with two stories and double-eave gable roofs, and the Bell and Drum Tower with single-eave gable roofs, were built by Yu Zhun, the grandson of Yu Chenglong. Every brick and tile reveals the sediment of history. 🏡 The Yu Zhongcheng Public Shrine, rebuilt in the 7th year of the Yongzheng period (1729 AD), extends along the central axis from east to west with a main gate, a screen wall, and a main hall, each step paying homage to history. 🏞️ Temple scenery: 20 halls and towers, 10 cave dwellings, 6 gates, and 1 stone archway. Each building tells a story, and every corner hides the sediment of time. ⛰️ Review: Anguo Temple is built along the mountain, with a staggered layout. The Laigong Villa is ingeniously constructed under the cliff halfway up the mountain, facing a deep valley with clear springs forming streams. The scenery is unique, and the construction is exquisite. This place is not only a sacred site for cultivation but also a perfect embodiment of the site selection philosophy of Shanxi's mountain architecture.