"The First Zen Forest in Zhongjo" - Wangu Temple. Photo by Lan Liqiang
In the land of China, temples and temples shine like stars, and there is never a shortage. In Yuncheng, Shanxi, a land that bears a heavy history, there are also an astonishing number of ancient buildings, which are like watchmen of the years, silently inheriting the ancient culture.
Among them, in the southwest of Yongji City, Yuncheng, among the lofty mountains and mountains, there is a thousand-year-old temple that leans on the mountain, the secluded forest pulls out the green, the momentum is magnificent, and the majestic and magnificent thousand-year-old temple - Wangu Temple.
Wangu Temple was founded in the Northern Wei Dynasty, has a history of more than 1,500 years, and is known as "the first Zen forest in Zhongtiao". There are many ancient buildings and cultural relics in the temple, mainly including Duobao Pagoda, Beamless Hall, Medicine Cave, etc. In October 2019, Wangu Temple in Yongji City was approved by the State Council as the eighth batch of national key cultural relics protection units.
However, due to the long-term natural erosion and the heavy rainfall during the flood season, Wangu Temple has brought severe challenges. The outer wall of the temple is peeling off, the beamless hall and the north and south ear houses are leaking, the north ear room cave coupon top is cracked, the eaves slope protection slope behind the medicine master cave is slipping, and the spire of the multi-treasure pagoda is overgrown with weeds, causing the bricks on the top of the tower to loosen and fall, seriously threatening the safety and integrity of this ancient building.
A corner of Wangu Temple. Photo by Lan Liqiang
In the face of this situation, the Yongji Cultural Relics Protection Center carried out emergency repair and protection and inheritance work on Wangu Temple.
"We started the emergency repair project of Wangu Temple in September 2023, and as of July 2024, the rescue repair part has been successfully completed. At present, we are carrying out conservation and restoration work on Wangu Temple. The staff of the Yongji Cultural Relics Protection Center told reporters that the overall repair project of Wangu Temple includes the structural reinforcement of the main body of the temple building, the repair of the exterior wall, and the cleaning and maintenance of the top of the tower. Through a series of meticulous conservation and restoration measures, it aims to restore the former glory of Wangu Temple, so that it can be passed on for a long time, and show the charm of ancient architectural art for future generations.
Wangu Temple under renovation. Photo by Lan Liqiang
In order to fully understand the progress of the repair work, recently, the reporter made a special trip to visit Wangu Temple.
From Yongji West Expressway, less than 10 minutes to come to the mountain gate of Wangu Temple, the first thing that catches your eye is the towering multi-treasure pagoda, at this moment, the tower is densely built around the solid scaffolding, as if to put a solid and heavy protective armor on this ancient tower.
Stepping in from the back door, I came directly to the front of the beamless hall, and saw Yang Zhijie and other four craftsmen concentrating on the repair of the outer wall of the beamless hall.
Craftsmen are carefully filling the brick joints. Photo by Lan Liqiang
"Survey records, formulate plans, surface cleaning, gap treatment, part repair, reinforcement protection, surface coating ......" Yang Zhijie told reporters, the principle of repairing a thousand-year-old building is to ensure that "repair the old as the old, build the new as the old", so the repair process is very complicated.
During the conversation, the reporter saw that under the scorching sun, the foreheads of the craftsmen were covered with beads of sweat the size of beans, and the sweat kept sliding down their cheeks, reflecting the crystal light. They are carefully filling in the cracks in the walls using special tools, "and each of the materials has been carefully blended to blend in perfectly with the materials and colors of the original walls." ”
At the repair site, all kinds of sounds are endless. The crisp sound of the tools in the hands of the craftsmen, the loud shouts of the commanders from time to time to ensure the safety and quality of the construction, and the friction sound generated during the transportation of materials, are intertwined and fused, like a symphony of passionate progress, echoing in this ancient land for a long time.
Workers are reinforcing safety nets. Photo by Lan Liqiang
Opposite the beamless hall is the Duobao Pagoda, which has been carefully erected around the pagoda to provide a solid security guarantee for the repair work.
Entering the interior of the tower, the cramped space can barely accommodate one person to pass through. Climb the stairs that spiral up the tower to the eighth floor, and to reach the ninth floor, you need to rely on scaffolding built by craftsmen to climb up.
When you come to the top of the tower, you can see that due to the long-term natural erosion and the luxuriant plants growing on the spire, many bricks have loosened and fallen.
Craftsmen carry out repair work on the top of the multi-treasure pagoda of Wangusa Temple. Photo by Lan Liqiang
Craftsman Zhang Juncheng and master Zhang Zhenyi surrounded the spire, discussing the repair plan with a focused expression. "We first surveyed and cleaned the spire, so that we could determine the plan more intuitively." When asked how he felt about doing this work, Zhang Juncheng solemnly told reporters: "I feel extremely proud, every renovation is a dialogue with history, and I have to admire the wisdom and ingenious technology of the ancients." Through our restoration, we will restore the original appearance of the thousand-year-old pagoda as much as possible, so that the world can continue to appreciate the charm of the ancient buildings. ”
Duobao Pagoda under renovation. Photo by Lan Liqiang
The breeze at the top of the tower blows gently, and the corners of the craftsmen's clothes flutter in the wind. Although their faces were dripping with sweat and tired, their eyes revealed persistence. Behind them, the vast sky and the rolling Nakajo Mountains seem to be silently witnessing this repair journey in a race against time.
Craftsmen carry out restoration work at Wangu Temple. Photo by Lan Liqiang
The ancient Wangu Temple is like a long-sleeping old man, gradually awakening under the skillful hands of modern craftsmen, and is radiating new vitality and vitality little by little. This protection and repair is not only the rescue of an ancient building, but also the inheritance and protection of history and culture.
It is expected that after the completion of the renovation, Wangu Temple will be displayed in front of the world with a new attitude, continue to witness the passage of time, and inherit the memory of history.