Xianshen Tower (祆神楼), also known as Xuanshen Tower (玄神楼), is located in Jiexiu City, Shanxi Province. This towering wooden structure is renowned for its distinctive architectural style, integrating elements of a mountain gate, a music tower, and a street-crossing pavilion. The tower features a three-tiered, cross-hipped roof design, characterized by its unique construction, meticulous structure, and harmonious proportions. The roof is adorned with exquisite glazed tiles, and the intricate wooden carvings under the eaves are notable. Xianshen Tower serves as a “living fossil” for studying the Zoroastrian culture in China. It is celebrated alongside Qiufeng Tower in Wanrong County and Feiyun Tower as one of the three famous towers of Shanxi.
The Xianshen Tower exhibits strong influences from West Asian Persian styles, evident in the ridge-top deity figure, the glazed statues of a deity in foreign attire riding an auspicious beast, and the common lily motifs in its glazed decorations. The lower level of the tower functions as a grand mountain gate, while the upper level serves as a spacious music tower facing the “Three Brotherhood Temple” to the north. Despite undergoing numerous repairs and renovations over the centuries, Xianshen Tower has retained its original structural integrity and decorative elements, including the beams, purlins, rafters, columns, and intricate carvings. These features preserve the remnants of Zoroastrian and Zoroastrian temple culture.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 hour |
| Ticket Price | 15 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 12.00; 14.30 – 17.00 Closed on Mondays |
Location and Transportation
Xianshen Tower is located at 581 Shuncheng Road, Jiexiu City, Jinzhong, Shanxi Province. To get there, you can take bus Jiexiu 103 Inner Loop Line, 103 Outer Loop Line, Jiexiu 202, Jiexiu 204, Jiexiu 206, Jiexiu 208A, Jiexiu 208B, or JIexiu 212 and get off at Museum Stop (博物馆站).
History of Xianshen Tower
Xianshen Tower is closely associated with the adjacent Xianshen Temple, which is said to have been constructed during the Northern Song Dynasty between 1047 and 1055. After the early Northern Song Dynasty unified China and ended over fifty years of turmoil, there was a period of economic growth, lively markets, and urban prosperity. This era also saw significant developments in politics, culture, and religion, including the establishment and expansion of Zoroastrian culture. With many Persian merchants gathering in Bianjing (modern-day Kaifeng), Zoroastrian temples became important meeting places, leading to the construction of additional Zoroastrian temples and shrines in various cities.
In 1047, Wen Yanbo was appointed to a high government position, and in 1048, he successfully suppressed a rebellion led by Wang Ze, a leader of the Maitreya Buddhist sect. During this period, Wen Yanbo’s faith in Zoroastrianism played a role alongside his military strategies. In 1055, he was promoted to the position of Prime Minister and honored with the title Duke of Lu. Subsequently, in his hometown of Jiexiu, Wen Yanbo not only established the “Temple of Duke Wen Lu” but also the Xianshen Temple, with the grand mountain gate in front becoming Xianshen Tower.
In 1532, during the Ming Dynasty, the temple was renovated and renamed the “Three Brotherhood Temple,” with some sources suggesting that the reconstruction occurred during the Wanli period under the direction of County Magistrate Wang Zongzheng. The temple was destroyed by fire in 1659 during the Qing Dynasty and rebuilt in 1660. Even after reconstruction, the temple retained beast head carvings on its wooden rafters.
During the reigns of Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong, additional structures were added, including a music tower and a grand hall, with the music tower being rebuilt in 1786. The Xianshen Tower complex underwent significant repairs in 1674 during the Kangxi era. While the glazed ridge decorations exhibit Ming Dynasty architectural styles, some of the wooden carvings may preserve the original designs from the Song Dynasty, indicating that the Song-era woodcarvings were replicated during subsequent restorations. These unique carvings, not typically found in other temples, highlight the tower and temple’s historical connection to Zoroastrianism.
