[2025 Fanshi Attraction] Travel Guide for Gongzhu Temple (Updated Jul)

On the journey, the most captivating sights are those ancient relics hidden deep in time, exuding a unique charm. This trip began with a visit to Yanshan Temple, followed by a 37-kilometer westward drive along winding roads to reach Princess Temple, located in Princess Village, Xingyuan Township, Fanshi County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. This temple is also a national key cultural relics protection unit. It was originally built during the Northern Wei Dynasty. Legend has it that Princess Chengxin of the Northern Wei Dynasty chose to become a nun here to escape the suffering of the mortal world, and the temple was thus established. It was later destroyed by war and rebuilt under the decree of Empress Wu Zetian during the Tang Dynasty. The current Mahavira Hall was renovated in the first month of the 16th year of the Hongzhi era (1503) in the Ming Dynasty, while the Vairocana Hall was renovated in the third lunar month of the first year of the Zhengde era (1506) in the Ming Dynasty. Though small in size, Princess Temple boasts a compact and well-proportioned layout. The first thing that catches the eye is its ancient architecture, with its upturned eaves, intricate brackets, and carved beams—despite the erosion of time, the refinement and splendor of its heyday remain evident. The most striking feature inside the temple is the nearly 100-square-meter Water-Land Murals in the Mahavira Hall. Painted in the 16th year of the Hongzhi era, these murals, though over 500 years old, remain largely clear and vibrant, preserving the original appearance of Ming Dynasty murals. The more than 480 figures depicted are vividly characterized, with expressive faces and attire distinctly representative of the Ming Dynasty. Upon closer inspection, each scene seems to tell a story, with lifelike figures—some solemn and dignified, others kind and gentle, and some glaring in anger—as if transcending time to vividly showcase the social customs and religious culture of the Ming Dynasty. The artists' exquisite craftsmanship is astounding, as their delicate brushwork and rich colors breathe eternal vitality into these murals. Beyond the murals, the temple's architecture itself is a highlight. The main structures retain the style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, holding significant historical and artistic value. The beams and brackets are meticulously structured, with intricate and exquisite designs, reflecting the superb architectural skills of ancient craftsmen. Scattered throughout the temple are steles and sutra pillars, silent witnesses to its history, recording its past glory. Princess Temple is not just a place of worship but a cultural treasure trove, waiting to be discovered and appreciated by more. 🎈Address: Princess Village, Xingyuan Township, Fanshi County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province ⌚Opening Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. 🚞Transportation: Self-driving is recommended.

Gongzhu Temple in Fanshi was built in the Northern Wei Dynasty. It is named after Princess Chengxin, the fourth daughter of Emperor Wencheng of the Northern Wei Dynasty, who became a nun here. It is said that the original site of the temple was in Shansi Village. The temple was located on a deep stream, and the road was dangerous and difficult to reach. It was destroyed by war as early as the Song and Jin Dynasties. In the Yuan Dynasty, the eminent monk Qiuyue Degong lived here and raised funds to rebuild the temple. In the early Ming Dynasty, Gongzhu Temple was moved from Shansi Village to its current location and rebuilt. After repairs in successive dynasties, it has formed the current three-entry courtyard with a central axis symmetry. On the central axis from south to north are the Mountain Gate, Pilu Hall, Weituo Hall, and Mahavira Hall. On the east and west sides are the Kalan Hall, Mawang Hall, Caishen Hall, Erlang Hall, and other buildings. Among them, the Mahavira Hall and the Guo Hall are the only remaining Ming Dynasty buildings in the temple, and the rest were built in the Qing Dynasty. · The Mahavira Hall was rebuilt in the 16th year of the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty (1503). Inside the hall is a Buddha altar, on which are three horizontal Buddhas. In the middle is the present Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha, with Ananda and Yingshi, two disciples, on both sides in front. The backlight Buddha seats are all complete and exquisite. On the left is the past Buddha, Dipamkara Buddha, and on the right is the future Buddha, Amitabha Buddha. The east, west, north, and south walls of the Mahavira Hall are painted with water and land paintings. The murals are painted with heavy colors, the brushwork is extremely delicate, and the brushwork is stable and rigorous. The hair is meticulous, and the colors are extremely rich. The characters are depicted in different postures, and the use of powder technology makes the colors still bright and solemn, making them a masterpiece of Ming Dynasty temple murals. The west wall of the main hall is centered on Lushena Buddha and Maitreya Buddha, with a monk with folded hands kneeling in front of the Buddha painted below. The two walls are symmetrically painted with Bodhisattvas, Arhats, Heavenly Earth, Vajra, and Heaven and Earth Gods, forming a grand scene of gods worshiping Buddha and immortals attending the meeting. The north wall is the Ten Great Kings and the Six Sons of Maitreya, and the east and west ends of the south wall are historical figures and ghosts in hell led by Ananda and the Bodhisattva. The murals in the Mahavira Hall involve 480 gods, humans, and ghosts, standing in front of the Buddha. Although there are many characters in the picture, it is not chaotic. The layout is orderly and ingenious. The images of each group of characters are separated by colorful auspicious clouds, so that the immortals can come and go freely. Looking at the murals, it is like being in a fairyland. Standing in it, seeing such a magnificent mural that stands tall and upright, one can only feel awe and marvel at the craftsmanship of gods and ghosts and the power of faith. · The Buddha altar in the Pilu Hall, built in the first year of the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty (1506), enshrines Shakyamuni, Brahma, and Indra. Behind Shakyamuni is the Water Moon Guanyin, surrounded by the statues of Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and the Eighteen Arhats. The hanging sculptures surrounding the statues are also masterpieces of the Ming Dynasty. The sculptures depict pavilions and towers, clouds and mist, and tell the story of Shakyamuni's journey to becoming a Buddha. · 📍Location: Gongzhu Temple, Fanshi, Xinzhou, Shanxi · 👉TIPS: Gongzhu Temple is closed from 12:00 to 2:00 for lunch. Please arrange your visit time reasonably.

Princess Temple is located in Princess Village, Fancheng Town, Fanshi County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. The construction date is unknown. The existing buildings, except for the Pilu Hall and the Great Hall of the Buddha, are relics from the Ming Hongzhi period (1488-1515), and the rest were built in the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911). The more valuable parts of Princess Temple are the Ming Dynasty corridor and the Great Hall of the Buddha. The corridor houses more than 200 square meters of Ming Dynasty murals and more than 30 colored sculptures including the Eighteen Arhats. The Great Hall of the Buddha houses more than 90 square meters of Ming Dynasty murals and 5 sculptures. The central altar is the Buddha Shakyamuni, with Guanyin Bodhisattva behind, and Manjushri and Samantabhadra on the left and right. The murals in the two halls have high artistic value and are precious materials for studying Ming Dynasty social activities. They are known as the "South and North Pearls" together with the Yongle Palace murals. On May 25, 2006, Princess Temple was announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

In the mouth of Shanxi mural lovers, there is a title of "South Yongle, North Princess" "South and North Shuangshu", which refers to the Princess Temple in Princess Village, Fancheng Town, Fanshi County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. So I deliberately stayed in Fanshi County for a day and rushed to the national key protected cultural relics in this small village-the colored sculptures and murals of the Princess Temple. The current Princess Temple is just a small temple in the village, but its initial construction time can be traced back to the Northern Wei Wen Emperor period. The Princess Temple was built because the fourth daughter of Emperor Wen of Wei became a monk here. Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty specially ordered the expansion, but it was subsequently destroyed by war. The current main hall, which has been reduced countless times, was rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty. There are two essences of the Princess Temple, one is the entrance hall. It is famous for its exquisite clay sculptures. The front view of the Vairocana Buddha and the Emperor Shitian statue, surrounded by Manjusri, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva and the Eighteen Arhats, this hall was rebuilt in 1506 (the first year of Zhengde). It is heartbreaking because its exquisite dozens of colored sculptures were cut off by thieves in the 1990s and sold abroad. Now, except for the main hall Buddha statue and the four Arhats, the original sculptures are all later. The villagers and believers raised funds to rebuild. The contrast between the old and the new is obviously not as good as the craftsmanship and aesthetics of the Ming Dynasty craftsmen. To say the most precious of the Princess Temple, it is the Daxiong Hall. Here enshrines the Buddha statue of Sakyamuni and the horizontal three-world Buddha, and the venerable Kasyapa and Ananda are on both sides. The colored sculptures are also relics of the Ming Dynasty. Of course the most beautiful is the Ming Dynasty murals on all four walls. The area is more than 200 square meters, and more than 480 character images have different expressions and are lifelike. It's amazing. I have seen countless murals in Shanxi temples these days. The scale of the Princess Temple is definitely not on the list, but in terms of exquisite and delicate degree, the murals of the Princess Temple can definitely be said to be the "peak" of the Ming Dynasty murals! The murals are preserved intact as a whole, with hundreds of colorful characters, centered around Rulai Buddha, as if worshiping, and as if listening to the Dharma. You can find the eighteen arhats, ten great Ming kings, eight dragons and eight parts, twenty-four heavens in Buddhism in various characters; there are also twenty-eight constellations in Taoism, and the familiar four sea dragon kings, five emperors, Big Dipper, twelve The phase belongs and so on, and there are "emperors from ancient times to the present", "famous generals from ancient times to the present", "filial sons from ancient times to the present"... the meaning of transcendence of all beings is required. Very interesting. Each character has a different expression, very much in the style of Ming Dynasty vernacular novel illustrations, but much more exquisite, and there are signatures of painters and painters on the murals. According to the villagers, that was the court painter! No wonder it is so shocking! As a cultural relics protection unit, the Princess Temple does not require tickets. But it may not open. If you see the door locked, you can ask the villagers on duty in the village. Someone should open the door for you. It’s not bad to let the villagers be your tour guide and explain the history of the small temple (20 yuan).