Jidu Temple

Jidu Temple

Name:Jidu Temple Class:AAA Area:Jiyuan Tel:200 meters east to the intersection of Tiantan Road and Jidu Road, Jiyuan City Tel:0086-400-666-0166 Email：henantour@gmail.com Skype：karenzheng2004 Jidu Temple is the short form for the Temple of Jidu North Sea, which is a key point cultural relic unit under government protection. Lying at the headstream of Jishui River, northwest of Jiyuan City, well preserved, it is the only one historical and cultural heritage of the four rivers, that is, Changjiang, Yellow River,Huaihe River and Jishui River. The temple is also the largest existing ancient architectural clusters which are acclaimed as the museum of the ancient architecture of central China. In ancient time, Jishui River directly flew into the sea, so together with Changjiang, Yellow River and Huaihe River, they are called Sidu, literally four rivers. In 582 of Sui Dynasty, a temple (also named Qingyuan Temple) was built to offer sacrifices to Jidu god under the order of the emperor then. Since the Han Dynasty, emperors sent government officials to come to the temple to offer sacrifices to Jidu god and this gradually developed into a fixed ceremony. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, government officials were sent to the temple to offer sacrifices and inform Jidu god or the god of North Sea when anything important occurred, such as wars, change of governments, praying for rain, even the fortune of royal members. There were more such activities among folk people, especially in the Tang and Song dynasties. Therefore, the rise and decline of the Temple witnessed the idolatry to gods in ancient China. Water played an important role in the appearance and development of the ancient Chinese civilizations. The headstream of Jishui River helped to build the capital of Xia Dynasty—the first slavery dynasty. Poets and Literati of various dynasties eulogized the river and left numerous poems and songs. Covering an area of 86,255 square meters, the layout of Jidu Temple looks like a big T. Now there are 72 rooms in the temple with a floorage of over 100,000 square meters. The temple is one of the largest existing ancient architectural clusters in Henan Province. Along the axle line are Qingyuan Courtyard Gate, Qingyuan Gate, Yuande Gate, Rest palace, Dragon pavilion and Lingyuan pavilion, etc. On each side of the axle line are Yuxiang palace, Jieguan building, Yuhuang (Jade emperor) palace and Longlife pavilion, etc. Qingyuan Courtyard Gate is a cluster of wooden structure buildings. So far as its cultural relic value is concerned, it is the most important one in Henan Province. The main buildings are located on three axle lines from north to south. In the deep courtyard, visitors can see door after door, ancient cypresses, stone steles, clean streams and pavilions. Here is not only the place to offer sacrifices to gods in ancient time, but also a typical garden in north China. Moreover, it is a place of interest in Jiyuan now. The Rest palace The Rest palace was built in 973 of the Song Dynasty. With a length of five rooms and a width of three rooms, the Chinese style building was constructed with slightly sloping roofs with thick and short pillars to support them. It is the oldest existing wooden building in Henan Province. To the north of Linyuan Gate are Jidu pond and Pearl spring, both of which are the east source of Jishui River. In the courtyard, visitors can enjoy the clean springs, pavilions around the pond, green ancient cypresses. It is really a typical garden in north China. There are 36 ancient buildings constructed in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. With a long history of about one thousand years, now the wooden structure buildings serve as a tiny vivid museum of architectural art of ancient China. The Decree Stele of Ming Dynasty The Decree Stele of Ming Dynasty was erected in 1370 of the Ming Dynasty with a height of 5.5 meters and a width of 1.7 meters. On the stele is carved a decree issued by Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, which was to standardize the titles of famous mountains, rivers, temples, loyal ministers, martyrs, etc. Looking neat and vigorous, the inscription also serves as an important document for the study of the system of politics, economy, culture and etiquette in the early stage of the Ming Dynasty. In the temple are green cypresses with a history of 1,800 years. They are over 20 meters tall and can be embraced by five adults hand in hand. One of them is called Han cypress. Legend has it that a goddess named Empress Wangmu planted it and carefully cultivated it. Another one is called General Cypress. It is said a general of the Tang Dynasty once hanged his weapon, an iron whip, on the cypress when he was in charge of the construction of the temple. Later the cypress was granted a title of General Cypress by an emperor. The Yuhuang Palace Yuhuang (Jade emperor) Palace, the administrative hall of Jade emperor, was constructed in the early period of the Qing Dynasty with a style of Ming architecture. It is valuable for the study of the ancient buildings in northwest of Henan Province. In the palace, visitors can watch pavilions in ancient Chinese styles, enjoy the running stream and appreciate the steles. Occasionally they can hear the toll of bells and the sound of drums coming from cypress forest. Here visitors can feel the Jishui culture and its glory of over one thousand years. Add. 200 meters east to the intersection of Tiantan Road and Jidu Road, Jiyuan City.