Feilai Temple

It is situated out of the northern gate of the city. It is also named the Damiao Temple. It was built in Tang Dynasty when Xizong Emperor conferred the construction of “Jiaqing Building”. It is nine zhang (1 zhang equals 3 1/3 meters) in height and twelve zhang in width. The outlook is splendid and magnificent. It was damaged in Jiaqing period of Ming Dynasty. Only Xiang Hall and Feilai Temple are relatively complete now. Xiang Hall was built in the 24th year of the reign of Hongwu Emperor in Ming Dynasty. It has three rooms. The building is simple and elegant. Feilai Temple is behind Xiang Hall. It was first built in Song Dynasty and reconstructed in Yuan Dynasty. The architectural layout becomes higher with the ridge of the slope, which gives it a complete sequence space. The temple is thus open and has an unlimited view showing the unworldliness of the religion. Peripheral columns are five-room-length apart, and inner columns are three-room-length apart. Brackets were fixed at the top. Supporting wood trunks rest on inner columns. Upward trunks were sculpted into the shape of elephant snout, and the downward trunks were sculpted into the shape of dragon head. The sculptures are meticulous and vivid. Two dragon clay sculptures coiling on the main pillars are as natural as if they were living, giving the building strong religious characteristics. The gable and hip imbrex is a modern alteration.