Jinci Museum – The Must-Visit Place in Taiyuan

The Offering Hall is located west of the Duiyue Archway and serves as the hall for presenting offerings to the Holy Mother Yijiang. It was initially constructed in the 8th year of the Jin Dynasty’s Dading era (1168) and underwent reconstruction in the 22nd year of the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era (1594). In 1955, it was renovated to its original form. The Offering Hall stands at a height of 9.75 meters, with a width and depth of three bays each. It features open doors at the center both in front and back, surrounded by thick parapet walls with straight wooden railings, and has a single-eaved hip-and-gable roof with deep eaves. The roof is covered with blue tiles trimmed with yellow and green glazed tiles. The decorative glazed tile ridge ornaments were added during the Ming Dynasty restoration, with inscriptions from the Wanli period still visible inside the ridge box. The beam structure of the hall is both resource-efficient and sturdy, with a single layer of horizontal beams supported by camel humps and short columns. The central bay features doors, while the surrounding low parapet walls have wooden railings, giving the hall a pavilion-like appearance that is both delicate and stable.

The Flying Bridge across the Fish Pond is situated between the Holy Mother Hall to the west and the Offering Hall to the east, spanning the Fish Pond. Traditionally, a circular pond is referred to as a pool, while a square one is called a pond, and since the water is home to many fish, it is named the Fish Pond. This is one of the three main springs of Jinci. The cross-shaped bridge over the pond is known as the “Flying Bridge,” which is believed to have been established before the Northern Wei Dynasty. The bridge measures 19.6 meters in length and 5 meters in width from east to west, and 18.55 meters in length and 4.91 meters in width from north to south, standing 1.3 meters above the ground. The sides of the bridge slope down to meet the ground, resembling the wings of a bird.

The small octagonal stone columns and bases in the Fish Pond retain the style of the Northern Dynasties. The existing bridge structure is a relic from the Song Dynasty. Based on the findings during the 1953 renovation, which revealed that the water tunnels beneath the Holy Mother Hall closely align with the west bank of the Fish Pond, it is inferred that the Flying Bridge was constructed during the Northern Song Dynasty, contemporaneously with the Holy Mother Hall. The Flying Bridge is one of the three major national treasures of Jinci.

Dushu Platform is located halfway up the mountain, connected to Lüzu Pavilion to the south and Santai Pavilion to the north. It was constructed by a local named Gao Ruxing in the 27th year of the Ming Dynasty’s Jiajing era (1548) and renovated in the 50th year of the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong era (1785). The platform measures 9.15 meters in length, 6.22 meters in width, and 3.08 meters in eave height, covering an area of 56.91 square meters. It faces east, with three bays and a gable and hip roof with a front porch 1.3 meters deep. Below the eaves hangs a scroll-style plaque inscribed with “读书台,” written by Wu Chongguang, the county magistrate of Taiyuan.

Originally built on Huixi Ridge of Xuanweng Mountain, the platform offers a scenic view of the mountains and fields to the east and the towering, verdant peaks to the west. It is said to be the study place of Yang Yin, a notable minister of the Northern Qi Dynasty. Born in Huayin, Shaanxi, Yang Yin moved to Jinyang with his father Yang Jin, who served as a governor in the Northern Wei Dynasty. Yang Yin studied here in his youth before assisting Gao Huan in his rise to power, becoming a renowned statesman known for his literary and military talents.

Holy Mother Hall is the main building of the Jinci complex, dedicated to the mother of Tang Shuyu, Lady Yijiang. It is the oldest existing structure in the temple, located at the western end of the central axis, backed by Xuanweng Mountain and fronting the “Flying Bridge across the Fish Pond.” The springs “Nanlao” and “Shanli” flank its north and south sides, respectively, making it the crown jewel of the entire temple. Among the three major national treasures of Jinci, the Holy Mother Hall is the most valuable due to its architectural style, specifications, and construction techniques, representing the epitome of Northern Song Dynasty architecture.

The clay statues within the hall are part of Jinci’s renowned “Three Wonders.” The main statue depicts the Holy Mother seated in a wooden shrine, exuding grace and elegance, surrounded by 42 attendants, each uniquely dressed and expressing various emotions. Notably, one maid is portrayed with a mixed expression of joy and sorrow, evoking complex feelings in observers. The Zhou Cypress, over 3,000 years old, stands north of the hall, planted during the Western Zhou Dynasty. The Nanlao Spring, located south of the hall, is the source of the Jin River, flowing continuously throughout the year.

The Fu Shan Memorial Hall, originally known as Tongle Pavilion, was built in the second year of the Qianlong era (1737) of the Qing Dynasty. It is located within the Jinci Museum complex, southwest of Shengying Tower. The hall is a Qing Dynasty quadrangle courtyard with a south-to-north orientation, covering a total area of 553.5 square meters. The site measures 20.7 meters in width from east to west and 27 meters in depth from north to south. The hall features architectural and decorative elements from the 1950s and 60s, including five main rooms in the southern section, three rooms each in the east and west wings, and a front screen door forming a separate courtyard. A small gate in the northeast corner leads to an additional courtyard. The interconnected layout of the hall, with its flexible and convenient exhibition spaces, features a corridor-style gallery. The entrance gate is intricately carved, painted, and decorated, creating an elegant and pleasant atmosphere.

The Dong Shouping Art Museum was established in March 1983 when Dong Shouping donated 200 of his calligraphy and paintings to the people of Shanxi. The Shanxi provincial government decided to construct the museum at Jinci in Taiyuan. In 1986, after receiving Dong’s approval, the provincial and municipal leaders allocated over one million yuan to begin construction, with the first phase completed in 1989. By early 1990, all interior and exterior decorations, paintings, and garden planning were finished.

The Dong Shouping Art Museum covers an area of 2,200 square meters, with a building area of 870 square meters and a 200-meter-long exhibition line. The centerpiece of the northern courtyard is a white marble relief sculpture of Dong Shouping, with an inscription by Yuan Xulin and Zhao Baoqin. The museum’s grand entrance features a large stone plaque inscribed with “董寿平美术馆,” designed and inscribed by renowned calligrapher Zhao Puchu and Zhao Baoqin.