Structure Type: Village temple 村廟.
Location: Shanxi Province, Hequ County, Daiyuedian Village 山西省河曲縣岱嶽殿村. The temple is located north of the village, which takes its name from the temple and seems to be quite new; the complex may originally have stood alone out in the fields. The place is about three kilometers south-east of the county town, overlooking the Yellow River to the south-west.
Period: 1852 [?]. The temple seems to have existed in this spot from the early Ming dynasty; a number of repair steles sit on the site from the mid-Ming and early-Qing. Despite the claims of the explanatory plaques posted on the site, the murals are certainly not from this era. The Dragon King Temple has a plaque on the ceiling which records that it was “raised to the beams” 上梁 by the members of the local temple committee 社 in 1852; an artist 化匠 [sic] named Xu Shiru 許士如 is listed here. This seems even somewhat early to me for the painting style, but I don’t know the style progression in this area at all. I’m also not sure if all of the halls were painted at the same time; the style is similar enough that it could be the same artist, but I’m not certain.
Artist: Xu Shiru 許士如 (see above).
Mural Contents: The complex was under renovation when I visited and only three of the halls had visible murals. The Hall of the Goddesses 娘娘殿 contains images of these deities processing out with their attendants. On the two flanking rear walls are images of women preparing food, a not-uncommon 19th century theme in this area. Similarly the Temple of the Dragon Kings 龍王廟 has more women preparing food on the rear wall, this time flanking the Mother of the Waters 龍母. On the side walls are the usual images of the Five Dragon Kings 五海龍王 processing out and back to dispense rain on the world below. The halls of the Jade Emperor 玉皇 and the Sun and Moon 日月 have simple drawings of hanging scrolls.
Other Notes: All of these paintings seem like a bit of an eyesore to me; I put them up here mostly due to the elaborate cooking scenes. According to the explanatory plaque hung outside, the complex also contains murals depicting Lord Bao 包公 receiving worship, and narrative paintings depicting the deeds of the general Yue Fei 岳飛. Both of these mural topics are quite unique, but unfortunately both of these halls were under renovation when I visited, and the walls were covered over. I have not been able to return since.
Full Gallery
