晋之祠——一个城市的历史和记忆

Temple to Jin:History and Memory of a City

太原在2003年举办了纪念建城2500年的活动,他们把城市的起点定在了公元前497年。依据的是晋阳城建城的时间。可是,晋阳城早在900多年前就被宋太宗赵光义烧毁了。在今天的太原城里,能看到的故迹也就是建造于明代的双塔和残存的崇善寺了。

Jinci Temple nestles at the foot of the Xuanweng Mountains, 25 kilometers southwest of Taiyuan. It is the largest ancient garden-like complex of monasteries existing in China. A national cultural landmark, Jinci Temple, aka Temple of Shuyu of the Tang, got its name from this permanent memorial to Jiyu, the founding father of the State of Jin. It is unclear exactly when the temple was first built but it was written up by Li Daoyuan of the Northern Wei in his 'Book of Rivers,' which suggests that it has a history of at least 1,500 years. The main building in Jinci is the Saint Mother Hall built in early Song Dyansty. Its spots of interest include the x-shaped Flying Bridge, Celestial Bridge, Wrought-lron Warriors Platform, Offering Hall, Duiyue Wooden Gateway, Bell Tower, and Water Mirror Stage. The so-called three national treasures of Jinci are the Offering Hall erected in Jin Dyansty; the x-shaped bridge above a fish pond; and the Saint Mother Hall. The most valuable of the three is the Saint Mother Hall itself and the 43 painted statues in it, which represents respectively the architectural apex and the sculptural achievement of the Song Dynasty.