A Journey Through a Thousand Years of History and Culture

Jinci Temple, located at the foot of Xuanweng Mountain, 25 km southwest of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, is not only a scenic tourist destination, but also a precious historical and cultural heritage site that combines ancient Chinese sacrificial architecture, gardens, sculptures, murals, and stele art. As the earliest existing royal garden in China, Jinci Temple attracts visitors from all over the world with its rich historical and cultural background and beautiful architectural style. The history of Jinci Temple: The history of Jinci Temple can be traced back to the Western Zhou Dynasty in the 11th century BC. Originally named Tang Shuyu Temple, it was built to commemorate Tang Shuyu, the founding marquis of the Jin State. Tang Shuyu worked hard to govern the country and used the Jin River to build farmland and water conservancy projects, so that the people of the Tang State could live and work in peace and contentment. Therefore, later generations chose this beautiful place with mountains and rivers in his fiefdom to build a temple to worship him. After Shuyu's son Xie Fu succeeded to the throne, he changed the name of the country from "Tang" to "Jin" because of the Jin River flowing through the territory, which is also the origin of the abbreviation "Jin" for Shanxi. The cultural characteristics of Jinci Temple: Jinci Temple is not only a place of ancient sacrificial offerings, but also an intensive carrier of ancient Chinese architectural art. On the central axis of Jinci Temple, there are four majestic iron-cast warriors from the Song Dynasty, who have stood the test of time for 900 years and still stand tall and imposing. The colored clay sculptures in the Hall of the Holy Mother, especially the 33 maidservants, are vivid and lifelike, showing the superb skills of Song Dynasty sculpture art. The beauty of Jinci Temple is not limited to this, as its natural beauty adds to its magical charm, earning it the reputation of "Little Jiangnan of Shanxi". The clear and bottomless Nanlao Spring water flows through the pavilions and halls; more than 20 ancient trees over a thousand years old, especially the Zhou cypress and Sui locust, leave a lasting impression. In addition, the stele of "Jinci Temple Inscription and Preface" written by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, and the stone pillar of "Jinci Temple Huayan Sutra" written by Empress Wu Zetian in the second year of the Shengli era of the Tang Wu Zhou Dynasty, are also national treasures of Jinci Temple, with important historical and artistic research value. Jinci Temple, a historical and cultural heritage that combines natural scenery and cultural richness, not only showcases the splendor of ancient Chinese architectural art, but also carries a rich history and culture. Whether you are a traveler in pursuit of natural beauty or an explorer curious about history, Jinci Temple has the answers you seek. Embark on this journey and start a journey through a thousand years of history and culture.