Wuye Temple (五爷庙), also known as Guangji Dragon King Temple (广济龙王庙), is a renowned religious site located in the heart of Taihuai Town, Wutai County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. The temple’s name, Wuye, refers to the Five Dragon Kings enshrined within, who are believed to bring blessings and protection to the local community. The temple is also known as Wanfo Pavilion (Pavilion of Ten Thousand Buddhas, 万佛阁) due to the presence of numerous small, gilded Buddha statues housed within one of its halls.
Temple Complex and Architecture
Wuye Temple covers an area of 2,040 square meters and consists of several key structures, including the Manjusri Hall, Wuye Hall, Wanfo Pavilion, monks’ quarters, a traditional Chinese theater stage, and two pagodas. The temple complex is oriented from north to south, with six main halls, three towers, 20 monks’ quarters, and a single stage for performances. Despite its relatively small size compared to other major temples on Mount Wutai, Wuye Temple is one of the most visited and revered, attracting pilgrims and tourists alike.
The temple’s most ancient and architecturally significant structure is the Wanfo Pavilion, built in 1616 during the Ming Dynasty. This two-story building houses a large collection of small, gilded Buddha statues, each about three inches tall, placed within wooden niches along the pavilion’s walls. The first floor is dedicated to Manjusri Bodhisattva, depicted riding a green-haired lion, surrounded by these miniature Buddha statues. The pavilion’s second floor is home to a massive bronze bell, weighing over 7,000 pounds and cast during the Wanli era. The bell, the second-largest on Mount Wutai, is accompanied by statues of the Ten Kings of Hell paying homage to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. The abundance of Buddha statues in the Wanfo Pavilion, totaling around 10,000 across both floors, gives the pavilion its name.
Historical Significance
The temple’s history dates back to the 44th year of the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli Emperor (1616), when it was first established as a subsidiary temple of Tayuan Temple. Initially, the only structure was the eastern hall, known today as the Manjusri Hall. During the Qing Dynasty, the temple underwent significant expansion with the addition of the northern hall, or Dragon King Hall, which was later rebuilt in 1917 during the early Republican era. The temple also transitioned from a Han Chinese Buddhist temple (referred to as “Qing Temple”) to a Tibetan Buddhist temple (“Yellow Temple”), becoming an independent site of worship.
Worship and Cultural Practices
The primary deity worshipped at Wuye Temple is the Guangji Dragon King, a localized and secularized version of Manjusri Bodhisattva. This figure represents the synthesis of Buddhist and folk beliefs, embodying the people’s desires for a good harvest, protection from natural disasters, good health, and overall prosperity. The Dragon King is so revered that he is affectionately referred to as “Wuye,” meaning “Fifth Lord,” by the local population.
