Chongqing Temple in Changzhi|The colorful sculptures here witness the universe and all beings!

|The colorful sculptures here witness the universe and all beings!. There is a saying that there are three groups of the most artistically representative colored sculptures in China: they are Chongqing Temple, Faxing Temple, and Jinci in Shanxi We have talked about the Twelve Yuanjue Bodhisattva statues of Faxing Temple, and last year we also appreciated the maid sculptures of Jinci during our visit to northern Shanxi. This year, we finally had the opportunity to come to Chongqing Temple in Changzhi! Even if you come for the colored sculptures of Chongqing Temple, don't miss the Song Dynasty architecture in the temple! Chongqing Temple was founded in the ninth year of Dazhong Xiangfu of the Northern Song Dynasty (1016 AD) It was renovated many times during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 1996, it became the fourth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. Originally, there were thousands of suspended Buddha statues on all four walls in the Buddha Hall, but now only more than 160 statues remain on the west wall~ still exquisite. This hall still retains the original Song Dynasty structure, with a width of three bays and a depth of three bays, a single-eaved Xieshan roof, and a square floor plan. What's interesting in this hall is that, behind the backlights of the two attendant Bodhisattvas on the altar, there is a standing statue of Pure Bottle Guanyin each, this type of statue is very rare, and it is said that there is only this one example in Shanxi! The Song Dynasty sculptures preserved in Chongqing Temple are relatively complete and quite splendid, especially the Three Great Sages Hall! Also known as the Arhat Hall~ The eighteen Arhat sculptures here are really wonderful The size ratio of the eighteen Arhats is similar to that of real people, not only are the folds of their clothes smooth and flowing, but more importantly, the expressions of the Arhats are very naturally and vividly depicted, Often, you can see a familiar shadow on the face of an Arhat Perhaps it resembles someone you've seen in life, a moment, or an expression. As an important representative of Song sculptures, the Arhat statues here can fully let you feel how the sculptor uses facial depictions and the actions of the characters to echo each other, thereby more profoundly expressing the characters' psychology. Ancient architecture expert Chai Zejun once said, the Arhat statues of Chongqing Temple not only have a precise date but also superb sculpting skills, they inherit the robust and vigorous charm of the Tang Dynasty Arhats, and greatly develop the realistic style to form a generation of fine works, which is very precious. In the Arhats, you feel the figures of all beings. Q Another hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall, should not be missed either! The Ksitigarbha Hall, as the name suggests, displays another world of the netherworld. The Ksitigarbha Hall was built during the Ming Dynasty, and the glazed tiles on the roof and the doors and windows are relics of the Ming Dynasty. The hall enshrines Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, with the Ten Kings of Hell on the left and right, and the six judges are sculpted on the side walls. The surprising part here is that, above each colored sculpture, the craftsmen use a series of painting and stage layout techniques, to create the pavilions, towers, and character stories in the netherworld with suspended sculptures. Therefore, coming to Chongqing Temple you can not only see heaven but also see earth! And on the bodies of the Song Dynasty Arhat statues, you can see all beings! Wonderful! Wonderful!