The Premier Stonemason of Southern Sichuan and Northern Guizhou | The Underestimated 'National Treasure' Architecture

Hejiang Fawang Temple is located at the border of Luzhou in Sichuan and Chishui in Guizhou, a famous ancient monastery known for its low-profile existence and tranquil self-contentment. The remaining ancient temple buildings date back to the Qing Dynasty, and it is currently a Sichuan provincial-level cultural relics protection unit, with its elevation to national treasure status expected soon. The temple is grand in scale, well-managed, and skillfully constructed, making it a rare place worth visiting. Not far from the ancient temple is the Yaoba Ancient Town, the 'living fossil of ancient residential buildings in Southern Sichuan,' which is now a national treasure unit. Among them, Ciyun Temple (Dongyue Temple) has a long history, with a beautiful opera stage, and can be visited together. Fawang Temple boasts majestic architecture, massive engineering, and exquisite carvings. All the columns in the temple are carved from whole stones, earning it the reputation of 'the best stonemason in the world.' The historical relics within the temple complement the modern restorations without any sense of discord, giving the entire ancient temple both a sense of historical depth and a burst of vitality. After driving to the parking lot, passing through the stone archway leads to the serene mountain gate. The architectural sequence includes the Guan Sheng Temple, Wanshou Pavilion, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Sutra Storage Tower, and Guanyin Hall, among other historical relics. The Wanshou Pavilion has a uniquely exquisite appearance, with lifelike carvings. The exterior walls still have murals of cranes and landscapes, and inside the pavilion, there is an imperial edict stele, with the second-floor loft painted with ink dragons and human figures. The Heavenly King Hall is connected to the Wanshou Pavilion, with a pair of Qing Dynasty female figure murals inside that are vividly portrayed. Passing through the Heavenly King Hall is the solemn and majestic Mahavira Hall, with exquisitely enshrined Buddha statues and niches, and two door god paintings on the vermilion doors with smooth lines. The entire ancient temple is not only remarkable for its wooden and stone architectural value, but also for its figure paintings, Buddha statues, niches, stone archways, and other items that are considered fine works. Additionally, between the Sutra Storage Tower and the Guanyin Hall, there are stone steps leading up, walking through the bamboo and nanmu forests, like a person in cultivation, looking back, the green bricks, grey tiles, and archways form a continuous scene, immersing oneself in it, one finds a place of peace.