Once again, we see the Ming Dynasty colored sculptures of Shuanglin Temple in Pingyao

Shuanglin Temple was established earlier than the Northern Qi Dynasty, and even if calculated from the Northern Qi Dynasty, it has a history of more than 1400 years. The name of Shuanglin Temple is derived from the meaning of Sakyamuni's Nirvana under the Sala Twin Trees. It is said that Shuanglin Temple was more famous than Pingyao Ancient City before 1997. When the ancient city was included in the World Heritage List, the application was for 'One City and Two Temples'. The city is Pingyao Ancient City, and the two temples are Shuanglin Temple and Zhenguo Temple, which we will visit tomorrow. 🍁Hall of Heavenly Kings As soon as you enter the mountain gate, you will see the Hall of Heavenly Kings. The Four Heavenly Kings stand with angry eyes, exaggerated shapes, and ferocious expressions (cute and silly). This is the essence of Shuanglin Temple - Ming Dynasty colored sculptures. There are more than 2000 colored Buddha statues in Shuanglin Temple, and the most distinctive feature is the depiction of people's eyes, which is very vivid. 🍁Sakyamuni Hall There are more than 200 hanging sculptures in the main hall of Sakyamuni, distributed on the walls of the hall. In addition to Buddha statues, there are various scenes and stories of people's lives, which are vivid and realistic, and are more interesting than the statues of Sakyamuni and Manjushri Bodhisattva. 🍁Bodhisattva Hall The main statue is the Thousand-Hand Guanyin, plump and dignified, with gentle eyes. There are more than 400 hanging sculptures of Bodhisattva around the hall. ⚠️Unfortunately, the Thousand Buddha Hall is under major renovation, and we did not see the Self-Contained Guanyin and the 'business card' of Shuanglin Temple, the Weituo statue. 🍁Architecture After watching the Ming Dynasty colored sculptures, you can take a look at the architecture. The outer perimeter of the temple is a circle of rammed earth and brick walls. The entire temple is built on a 3-meter-high earth platform. Along the brick wall, you can circle the temple from a high place. The temple is divided into two parts, east and west. The main halls are in the west: three courtyards and ten halls. The east is mainly Zen rooms and scripture halls. The roof ridge of Shuanglin Temple is inherited from Jiexiu, with yellow, green and blue glazed tiles, and the shape is gorgeous and exaggerated. 🍁Shuanglin Temple Colored Sculpture Art Museum Address: No. 28, Shuanglin Zheng Street, Qiaotou Village, Zhongdu Township, Pingyao County, Jinzhong Opening hours: 8:00-17:30, stop admission at 17:15 (winter) /8:00-18:00, stop admission at 17:45 (summer) Ticket: 33 yuan (there are zeros and wholes) The parking lot at the entrance is very large, and the parking fee is 10 yuan Transportation is indeed not very convenient, it is more convenient to drive by yourself or charter a car from Pingyao Ancient City.