Nanyang Fawang Temple, this is the most relaxing ancient building I have encountered

After checking in at the famous Macun Brick Carving Tombs during the May Day period, I then came to another national protected unit not far from it - Nanyang Fawang Temple. It was drizzling at the time, and the rain got heavier on the way to Fawang Temple, which made me worry about whether I could enter smoothly. Fortunately, when I arrived at the entrance, I saw the gate wide open, with a group of uncles and aunties playing cards under the mountain gate, which dispelled my concerns. Who is the Fawang The name Fawang makes people think wildly, as if it refers to a king with great magical powers. The answer is on the gate of the temple, which reads 'Temple of the Fawang, the Xuantian Shangdi', confirming that the Fawang here is the Northern Emperor Xuanwu, also known as the God of Beiyue. Architectural Features The existing buildings are mainly from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including the mountain gate, stage, main hall, Hou Tu hall, Ten Marshals hall, Nine Luminaries hall, Seven Stars hall, etc., with a very regular overall layout. Mountain Gate It is a single-eave building with a hard mountain top, three bays wide and four rafters deep, covered with green glazed tiles, and has a plaque reading 'Temple of the Fawang, the Xuantian Shangdi'. There is an inscription on the upper side, proving that it was built during the Qing Tongzhi era, and there is a mural of a fierce tiger descending the mountain on the left side. Stage It can be said to be the 'treasure of the temple' of Fawang Temple, a cross-shaped double-eave Xieshan top building, three bays wide and deep, covered with yellow and green glazed tiles, with a protruding stage in the front, and galleries on the left, right, and rear sides. The stage looks very beautiful as a whole, and the interior caisson looks like a star when viewed from below. The beam frame structure also uses the method of corner beams to reduce columns, so there are no large columns inside, and the beauty of mechanics is fully displayed. Although it is a Ming dynasty stage, the structure here is very similar to that of the Yuan dynasty after removing the surrounding ring of structure. Main Hall It is a single-eave Xuan Mountain top building, three bays wide and four rafters deep, with a five-bay corridor added to the front, making the worship space more open. Two coiled dragon columns in the front are eye-catching, with the dragons looking lifelike, and the era is also recorded on them - the Ming Hongzhi era. The highlight inside the main hall is the intricate small woodwork, which connects up and down with the golden columns inside, forming a hall within a hall structure. Record The practice of Nanyang Fawang Temple opening its doors to welcome visitors really touches every friend who loves to visit ancient sites. You can stay here for a while, admire the ingenious ancient buildings, the beautiful stage, and even watch the uncles and aunties playing cards at the mountain gate. This might be the spiritual power that ancient buildings give to people. Guide Navigate to Fawang Temple in Nanyang Village, Jishan County, Shanxi Province. If the gate is not open, you can call the number on the gate or ask the villagers.