Principle of Xuankong Temple
The construction principle of Xuankong Temple was to use mechanical principles and rock support to distribute the weight of the building on the supporting structure to achieve the effect of hanging on the cliff. To be more specific, Xuankong Temple used a half-inserted flying beam as the foundation. With the support of the rock, the beam and column were one body, and the corridor was connected to the left and right, forming an entire wooden frame structure. In addition, Xuankong Temple chose a suitable cliff as the construction site to ensure that the cliff had sufficient height and straightness to ensure the stability and safety of the building when it was suspended. In general, the architectural principle of Xuankong Temple was to hang the building on the cliff, creating a unique and spectacular architectural form.
The Principle of Xuankong Temple
The construction principle of Xuankong Temple was to distribute the weight of the building on the supporting structure to achieve the effect of hanging on the cliff. Xuankong Temple used the principles of mechanics to insert flying beams as the foundation, relying on the rocks as the hidden support. The beams and columns were one body, and the corridors were connected to the left and right. The plank road that looked up at the sky was only supported by a few vertical and horizontal logs. The true center of gravity of Xuan Kong Temple was supported by the hard rock, using the principles of mechanics and the structure of the flying beam. In addition, the wood used for the flying beams of Xuankong Temple was the local specialty hemlock wood. It was soaked in tung oil before use to prevent corrosion and insects. These special architectural designs and materials allowed Xuan Kong Temple to remain standing for thousands of years and become one of the world's greatest architectural miracles.
Xuankong Temple
Xuankong Temple was a temple located on the cliff of Cuiping Peak on the west side of Golden Dragon Gorge in Hengshan, Hunyuan County, Shanxi Province, China. It was built 1400 years ago in the later period of the Northern Wei Dynasty. It was the only unique temple in China that combined Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. It was also one of the earliest wooden structures built on the cliff in the world. Xuankong Temple was a key cultural relic protected in China and was known as the "number one scenic spot" among the 18 scenic spots of Mount Heng. The temple was about 50 meters above the ground and consisted of 40 houses. All of them were supported by a wooden frame structure and were fixed by 27 wooden beams inserted into the rock wall. Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian statues were worshiped in the temple, and a large number of murals, sculptures, and Buddhist scriptures were preserved. They had extremely high cultural value. The architectural style of Xuankong Temple was unique. It was famous for its precipitous abyss. It was known as one of the earliest and best preserved high-altitude wooden cliff buildings in China. Xuankong Temple was also one of the seven Xuankong Temples in China. The other Xuankong Temples were distributed in Guangling County, Long County, Jingxing County, Xishan County, Jianchuan County, and Jiande City.
Xuankong Temple
Xuankong Temple is located in Hunyuan County, Datong City, Shanxi Province.
Xuankong Temple
The highlights of Xuankong Temple included the boardwalk, the north tower, the uneven heights of the temples and pavilions, as well as the magnificent scenery of the towering mountain walls. When the clouds and mist arrived, the tourists felt as if they were in a palace in the sky. It was a wonderful feeling. In addition, the architectural art of Xuankong Temple was also very superb. The entire temple was suspended on the steep cliff, giving people the feeling of flying in the air. It was very dangerous and strange. The visitors could experience the unique charm of the Xuankong Temple by climbing, drilling through the skylight, passing through the grottoes, crossing the boardwalk, walking along the corridor, and so on.
Xuankong Temple
Xuankong Temple was located between the cliffs of Cuiping Peak on the west side of Jinlong Gorge, Hengshan Mountain, Hunyuan County, Datong City, Shanxi Province.
Xuankong Temple
Xuankong Temple was located between the cliffs of Cuiping Peak on the west side of Jinlong Gorge, Hengshan Mountain, Hunyuan County, Datong City, Shanxi Province.
To Xuankong Temple
Xuankong Temple was located between the cliffs of Cuiping Peak on the west side of Jinlong Gorge, Hengshan Mountain, Hunyuan County, Datong City, Shanxi Province. From Datong bus station or Xinnan bus station, one could take a long-distance bus to Chaotic Origin, then chartered a car to Heng Mountain and Xuan Kong Temple. The price was about 50 yuan. Xuankong Temple is open from 08:30-17:30 (Winter: November to May) and 08:00-18:00 (Summer: June to October). The ticket price was 130 yuan per person in the peak season (March to October) and 125 yuan per person in the off-season (November to February). Xuankong Temple was a wooden structure built on a cliff. It had unique architectural features and was known as the embodiment of the essence of ancient Chinese architecture. There are copper, iron, stone, mud Buddha statues in the temple, etc. On the rocks under the temple are engraved the calligraphy of Li Bai, a poet of the Tang Dynasty. Xuankong Temple was about 50 meters above the ground. It was a thrilling and spectacular scenic spot. It was listed as the number one wonder of Mount Heng.
Xuankong Temple
Xuankong Temple is located between the cliffs of Cuiping Peak on the west side of Jinlong Gorge, Hengshan Mountain, Hunyuan County, Datong City, Shanxi Province.
Xuankong Temple
Xuankong Temple, also known as Xuankong Temple, was located on the cliff of Cuiping Peak on the west side of Golden Dragon Gorge in Hengshan, Hunyuan County, Shanxi Province. It was built more than 1400 years ago in the later period of the Northern Wei Dynasty. It was the only unique temple in the country that combined Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Xuankong Temple was a wooden frame structure. Using the principles of mechanics and the support of rocks, the temple seemed to be suspended in the air. The temple had a total of more than 40 halls and pavilions. The buildings were extremely unique and were famous for their precipitousness. Xuankong Temple was a key cultural relic protected in China, and it was also the "first scenic spot" of the 18 scenic spots of Mount Heng. In 2010, it was selected as one of the top ten buildings in the world by Time Magazine. Xuankong Temple's scenic spots included meditation rooms, Buddhist halls, Three Buddha Halls, Taiyi Hall, and so on.
Xuankong Temple
Xuankong Temple was a wooden structure built on a cliff. The entire temple was suspended in the air, about 50 meters above the ground, equivalent to a 20-story building. It consisted of 40 houses, all supported by a wooden frame structure, and only 27 wooden beams were inserted into the rock wall to fix it. The architectural features of Xuankong Temple could be summarized as " strange, mysterious, and ingenious." Its architectural style was unique, combining the cultural elements of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Inside the temple were statues of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. It was a rare temple in China that combined the three religions. From a distance, Xuankong Temple looked very unreal. It looked like an exquisite embossed embedded in a cliff. The structural design of the entire temple was ingenious. It not only made full use of the bearing capacity of the rock mass, but also avoided excessive damage to the natural landscape. Xuan Kong Temple was a world-renowned architectural wonder, and was known as one of the world's top ten most dangerous buildings.