JINCI TEMPLE

The road runs along the Fen River, crossing a countryside of orchards and rice fields showing the exceptional fertility of the basin surrounding Taiyuan. The cultural ensemble of Jinci appears at the foot of a hill as a suite of terraces separated by bridges. The Song-roofed roofs have been restored and expanded over the centuries under the Ming and Qing. We enter the Pure Landscape Door (Jinqingmen) to lead to the first large structure, the terrace of the Miroirs, a magnificent finely carved pavilion that served as outdoor theater. To the east of this one, the bridge "where the Immortels meet" is embedded in the small Zhibo Canal (excavated in 453 BC). He leads to the iron statues terrace. The four iron statues, called «Metal men», were melted in 1097, but the oldest of these warriors dates back to 1089. A large portico (Duiyuefang), between the tower of the Cloche and the tower of the Drum, leads to the room of offerings erected in 1168. Then we pass the "flying bridge" to arrive at the Temple of Ancestors, the main sanctuary where the holy mother (Shengmudian) sits. With its eight columns of wood carved with ferocious dragons, this building is the oldest in Taiyuan, but also the most interesting of the whole Jinci. Inside, 42 nature-sized figurines, in terracotta, representing female servants, date from the Song dynasty. Each with a different, personalized face, they surround the holy mother dressed in great stature. This was only the mother of Prince Shuyu of the West Zhou dynasty (1050-1025 BC). The temple was originally erected by the prince himself to honor the memory of the queen mother.