Nanyue Great Temple南岳大庙

Type

Temples and Abbeys (Gongguan)

Location

China · Hunan · Hengyang · Nanyue Town, Nanyue District, at the foot of Chidi Peak on the southern side of Mount Heng

Coordinates

27.24, 112.733 Map ↗

School

Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) Daoism, Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) Daoism

First built

the thirteenth year of the Kaiyuan era of the Tang (725) · Repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt from the Song onward; the present main structures date from a reconstruction in the eighth year of the Guangxu era of the Qing (1882)

Heritage status

Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level (2006)

Overview

Nanyue Great Temple is the state sacrificial temple dedicated to the Sovereign Who Governs Heaven and Manifests Sagehood of the Southern Peak (the Sage Emperor of the Southern Peak), and one of the largest complexes of ancient architecture south of the Yangzi, covering about 98,000 square meters, with nine courtyards in four tiers along its central axis, its layout modeled on a palace. The temple was first built in the 13th year of the Kaiyuan era of the Tang (725) and expanded over successive eras; its present buildings date mainly from a reconstruction in the eighth year of the Guangxu era of the Qing (1882). The main hall, Shengdi Hall, rises about 22 meters, with seventy-two stone pillars symbolizing the seventy-two peaks of Mount Heng. The temple's distinctive feature is that its central axis holds the principal hall for sacrifice to the marchmount, while eight Daoist temples (such as Yuxu Palace and Qinghe Palace) stand to the east and eight Buddhist monasteries to the west — Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism sharing a single temple complex. The temple preserves steles dating from the Tang and Song and plaques bestowed by Ming and Qing emperors, and is the seat of the Hunan Taoist Association.

Highlights

• Seventy-Two Stone Pillars of Shengdi Hall
• Eight Daoist Temples East, Eight Buddhist Monasteries West
• Imperial Stele Pavilion
• Nanyue Temple Fair