This is the only Dai Temple outside of Mount Tai - Zexian Dai Temple

Zexian Dai Temple is located in Yedi Village, Nancun Town, Zexian County, situated on the northwest side of the village. It is the only Dai Temple apart from Mount Tai. According to the inscription on the columns of the main hall of the Dai Temple, "One stone column donated by Wang Cong of the Five Sacred Mountains Hall, recorded on the third day of the second month of the third year of Yuanfeng," it can be seen that it was built no later than the third year of Yuanfeng in the Song Dynasty. The existing "Record of the Reconstruction of the Dai Temple" on the west wall of the main hall of the Dai Temple records: "After occasional military conflicts, alas! The beams and pillars collapsed. The tiles were missing, the walls were destroyed, and the exterior was overgrown with weeds while the interior was thorny. The wind and rain eroded the painted statues, and the rituals of incense offerings were lost over the years. Everyone who saw it lamented!" It can be seen that during the Jin and Yuan periods, due to wars, the temple's artifacts were repeatedly damaged and repaired. Zexian Dai Temple consists of two courtyards, with the main buildings divided into the upper and lower courtyards. The elevation difference between the upper and lower courtyards is 2.81 meters, perfectly matching the habit of viewing at a 45° angle. The architectural design is so precise that it is rarely seen even in today's highly advanced scientific and technological era. The upper courtyard of the Dai Temple features typical northern architectural style. The Qitian Hall is the main hall of the upper courtyard and is the oldest existing building in the temple, rebuilt in 1080 AD. The hall has three bays in width and depth, with a single-eave hip roof. The eaves extend 2.5 meters, and the bracket system follows the construction methods of the Song and Jin dynasties. The square lotus-covered stone bases and square chamfered stone columns outside the main entrance, along with the inscriptions on the tops of the four stone columns; the stone-carved door frame from the 27th year of Jin Dading (1187 AD), and the stone-carved door piers with lion sculptures, are all exquisitely crafted with clear inscriptions. The hall's interior features exquisite brick-carved deity platforms and wooden deity niches with floral covers. The hall's roof is adorned with a 2.3-meter-high glazed ridge decoration resembling a four-clawed dragon descending from the sky, hovering over the hall's ridge. The ancient painted murals are also extremely valuable cultural heritage. The Dance Pavilion is located opposite the Qitian Hall, with a square floor plan. Four sandstone columns support a wooden cross-hip roof with flying eaves and gentle slopes. The eaves extend far, and the column heads are adorned with large beams. The bracket system consists of five layers, with the tail of the brackets curving upward. The roof structure is an octagonal wooden frame with a caisson ceiling, constructed without a single nail, showcasing unique and intricate craftsmanship. The east and west doorways of the Dance Pavilion bear the inscriptions "Fish Swallowing the Clear Moon" and "Cypress Reflecting the Cold Pool," connecting the upper and lower courtyards and the bamboo grove to the south of the Dance Pavilion, as well as the fish pond and the well to the east, with two towering cypress trees beside the well. This combination of pavilions, fish ponds, bamboo shadows, and poetic inscriptions not only gives a sense of grandeur and sanctity but also provides an enjoyable aesthetic experience. The lower courtyard features classic southern garden-style architecture. Looking up from the lower courtyard, the window designs on the east and west wings of the Dance Pavilion are all garden-style. The Dance Pavilion is situated between the upper and lower courtyards, with a clear spring fish pond to the south, cypress trees to the east, and a ginkgo tree to the west, fully embodying the core southern garden technique of changing scenery with each step. The Yedi Dai Temple is a testament to the ancient wisdom of combining temples and gardens. Under the light, the ancient cypress trees are reflected in the fish pond, corresponding to the inscription "Cypress Reflecting the Cold Pool" above the doorway. At night, the moon's reflection in the water, with fish swimming towards the moon's shadow, corresponds to the inscription "Fish Swallowing the Clear Moon." The combination of sunlight and moonlight, the pond, and the bamboo grove creates a perfect fusion of northern and southern architectural art, showcasing the temple's grand and elegant layout and the design concept of harmony between heaven and humanity. ☑️ Tickets: Free, contact the cultural preservation officer when not open ☑️ Core Highlights: ⭐ Qitian Hall - The existing building was rebuilt in the third year of Song Yuanfeng (1080 AD), with a front platform height of 1.53 meters, recorded as "the steps are shoulder-high" ⭐ Square lotus-covered stone bases, square chamfered stone columns, and inscriptions on the tops of the four stone columns outside the main entrance of the hall ⭐ Stone-carved door frame from the 27th year of Jin Dading (1187 AD) ⭐ Stone-carved door piers with lion sculptures ⭐ Exquisite brick-carved deity platforms and wooden deity niches with floral covers inside the hall ⭐ 2.3-meter-high glazed dragon ridge decoration on the hall's roof, with a four-clawed dragon descending from the sky, hovering over the hall's ridge ⭐ Dance Pavilion - Cross-hip roof with caisson ceiling, constructed without a single nail ⭐ East and west doorways of the Dance Pavilion, bearing the inscriptions "Fish Swallowing the Clear Moon" and "Cypress Reflecting the Cold Pool" ⭐ Connecting the upper and lower courtyards and the bamboo grove to the south of the Dance Pavilion ⭐ Fish pond (with a stone-carved dragon head on the north wall and a tiger head carved in relief on the opposite south wall, used to predict the weather in ancient times) ⭐ Well to the east and two towering cypress trees beside the well ⭐ "Guardian" of the Dai Temple entrance - Ginkgo King and the one-armed Venus lion Reference: Folk Architecture and Rural Customs - Taking Yedi Dai Temple in Zexian County, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province as an Example