Northern Jin

Fo Guang Temple Travel Guide

Tang Dynasty Wooden Structure · East Main Hall · Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin

The East Hall of Foguang Temple is the largest and most well-preserved Tang dynasty wooden structure existing in China, built in 857 AD. Liang Sicheng called it 'China's number one national treasure' — it disproved the assertion that 'no Tang dynasty wooden buildings remain in China.'

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Destination Details

Key facts

Best seasonMay–Oct

Suggested stay1.5 hours

Key highlightsMain Hall · Tang Dynasty Sculptures · Tang Dynasty Murals · Patriarch Pagoda

TrafficChartering a car in Wutai County takes about 1 hour

RemindThe location is remote and requires a chartered car for round trips.

Foguang Temple is located in Doucun Town, Wutai County, hidden on a hillside outside the main plateau. In 1937, Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin discovered this site based on clues from the Dunhuang mural "Wutai Mountain Map" and confirmed that the East Main Hall was originally constructed during the Tang Dynasty, overturning the previous notion that "China has no Tang Dynasty wooden architecture."

Main Highlights

East Main Hall

Built in the 11th year of the Tang Dazhong period (857), it has seven bays and a single-eave wǔdiàn (hip-and-gable) roof. Its most striking feature is the extended eaves—the roof extends outward nearly four meters, supported by layers of dougong brackets with seven sets of double arms and double brackets. Standing in front of the hall and looking up, your view is completely filled by the dougong. This grand and spacious proportion is a typical feature of Tang Dynasty architecture.

Statues and Murals

Inside the hall, over thirty Tang Dynasty painted sculptures are preserved on the Buddhist altar, dating from the same era as the building and extremely valuable. Small sections of Tang-era murals remain on the side walls and behind the central Buddha seat, consistent with the style of contemporary Dunhuang paintings. The Patriarch Pagoda behind the hall is a relic from the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Suggested Route

Classic: Mountain Gate → East Main Hall → Manjusri Hall → Patriarch Pagoda, about 1.5 hours.
Combine with Nanchan Temple, Xiantong Temple, and Bodhisattva Peak to make a full day of ancient Wutai architecture.

Practical Information

The location is remote, so chartering a car or driving yourself is necessary. It is recommended to visit Nanchan Temple and Foguang Temple within half a day. The interior of the hall is dimly lit, and flash photography is prohibited. The nearby core area of Wutai Mountain is at high altitude, so even in summer, a jacket is recommended.