Taiyuan Chunyang Palace

Shanxi has three Chunyang Palaces, the Taiyuan Chunyang Palace is the most importance. Taiyuan Chunyang Palace is located at No. 1 Qifeng Street, Yingze District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province. It covers an area of over ten thousand square meters and now serves as both the Shanxi Ancient Architecture Museum. Originally built to honor the Tang Dynasty Daoist figure Lu Dongbin, Chunyang Palace is renowned for its 'Three Wonders of Chunyang': the unique Jiugong Buagua Courtyard architecture, the Nirvana Transformation Stele from the period when Empress Wu Zetian declared herself emperor, and the Changyang Celestial Lord’s White Marble Statue

Highlights of Chunyang Palace

Jiugong Buagua Courtyard

Jiugong Buagua Courtyard

Chunyang Palace's Jiugong Bagua Courtyard follows a special layout from the Jiugong Bagua Zhen. This ancient Chinese pattern matters greatly in tradition, especially for military and Taoist uses. 'Jiugong' means a nine-grid shape showing the world's four directions plus the center. 'Bagua' stands for the eight directions with natural meanings: Qian (sky), Kun (land), Zhen (thunder), Xun (wind), Kan (water), Li (flame), Gen (mountain), Dui (lake). Combining the Jiugong and Buagua Zhen forms a complex array that symbolizes the order and transformation of the universe.

Nirvana Transformation Stele

Nirvana Transformation Stele

This 302 cm high, 87 cm wide, and 25 cm thick stele dates to AD 691 (Tang Wu Zhou's Tian Shou year 2). It survived anti-Buddhist movements undamaged against the odds. The stone reflects Wu Zhou's different religious world compared to Li Tang 1,300 years ago. It shows Sui-Tang period carving at its most decorated. Six Nirvana tales appear clearly on its surface. Crucially, it gives important proof of Empress Wu Zetian using religion to hold power. In 2002, it was included on the list of Chinese cultural relics prohibited from being exhibited abroad.

Changyang Celestial Lord’s White Marble Statue

Changyang Celestial Lord’s White Marble Statue

Carved during the Tang Dynasty, the statue of Changyang Celestial Lord is found in the Five-entrance Courtyard's Qianzhen Cave. Also known as Lu Dongbin, this important Taoist figure belongs to the legendary Eight Immortals. The entire sculpture uses white marble. It shows a full face with smooth lines. Clothing patterns are clearly visible, displaying the Tang sculptural style clearly. This statue is key to studying Tang Dynasty stone figures. China placed it on the prohibited export exhibition list back in 2002.

Educational Value

The Jiugong Bagua Courtyard in Taiyuan's Chunyang Palace is a special building in Chinese Taoism. It combines the Bagua directions from the 'I Ching' with the Jiugong of astronomy to form a model of the cosmos. This shows the Taoist idea of 'harmony between man and nature'. It is the only remaining religious building that explains both I Ching learning and star worship. For those interested in Taoist thought and buildings, visit here. You can directly experience the cultural heart of Taoism's harmonious belief.

Activities to do at Chunyang Palace

Free Lecture: Chunyang Palace gives seven free lectures daily to promote traditional culture. Experts give these talks on the palace's history and architecture. Times are 9:10 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 4:00 PM. If interested, visit Chunyang Palace during these hours