The Zhougong Temple, located at the foot of Phoenix Mountain, Qishan County, Shanxi Province, is one of the famous Taoist architectural complexes in Northwest China. Zhougong is enshrined in the temple.
In fact, Zhougong was a historical figure that lived around the 11
thcentury BC. He aided his elder brother Emperor Wuwang to beat the enemies and establish the Zhou Dynasty (11
thcentury BC -- 256BC). After Emperor Wuwang died, he was loyal and devoted to the successor of Emperor Wuwang and dealt with the affairs of the imperial court. He was therefore respected and praised by people for thousands of years. In order to commemorate Zhougong, the imperial court ordered to establish the temple for him here in 618, and Zhougong gradually became an immortal in the Taoist belief.
The main extant buildings include the Main Hall and the Sacrifice Hall, where many deities are enshrined. The Zhougong Temple faces the south, and its three sides are surrounded with mountains. In addition, over 30 holy caves on the surrounding hillsides are used to enshrine Zhang Sanfeng, the Eight Immortals Cross the Sea, Laojun (the Holy Lord),Yuanshi Tianzun(Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning), Kwan-yin, Manjusri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra and the Medicine King. The Zhougong Temple is very large, covering an area of 612,000 square meters and with a construction area of 5,400 square meters. The buildings built according to the hypsography of the mountain are grandiose, magnificent and well organized. The stone steles and calligraphies of the past dynasties are kept in the temple.
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