Savoring Antiquity in Winter Shanxi · Lüliang

冬天常被视为寂静而严寒的季节，但对于钟爱古建筑的人们而言，它却是一段难得的访古时光。而山西，这片华夏文明的厚土，在冬日更显庄重与深沉。此行的目的地，是吕梁——一个不只因英雄故事闻名，更因散落其间的古老建筑而闪耀历史光辉的地方。

Winter often evokes an initial impression of stillness and cold, but for ancient architecture enthusiasts, it is the optimal season to appreciate historical structures. This winter is undoubtedly the best time to immerse oneself in the ancient civilization of Shanxi, especially in the age-old land of Lüliang. Scattered across this region are numerous historical treasures—here, one finds not only heroic tales but also wooden epics that p millennia.

则天圣母庙

Zetian Empress Temple

位于文水县——武则天家乡的则天圣母庙，是全国仅存的祭祀这位传奇女皇的庙宇。其历史可追溯至她称帝的年代，虽历经金代、明清重修，但正殿仍保留着珍贵的金代木结构。更令人惊叹的是，殿内一对唐代金柱与部分唐瓦唐砖，静默承载着千余年的风雨。殿中的明代武则天彩塑以及历代碑刻，不仅具有极高的艺术水准，更如同一页页立体史书，诉说着那段独特而辉煌的往事。

The Zetian Empress Temple is the only temple in China dedicated to Empress Wu Zetian, located in her hometown of Wenshui. Originally built during her reign, it underwent renovations during the Jin Dynasty and the Ming and Qing dynasties. The temple faces south, with its main hall accompanied by a theater stage, mountain gate, stele corridor, and side halls. The Zetian Empress Temple preserves the rare wooden structure of the Jin Dynasty main hall, which houses a pair of Tang Dynasty golden pillars and some Tang-era tiles and bricks—precious artifacts that attest to the temple’s long history. Additionally, Ming Dynasty colored sculptures of Wu Zetian and stele inscriptions from various dynasties hold immense historical value.

太符观

Taifu Taoist Temple

走进汾阳市杏花村镇的太符观，仿佛步入一座活着的金代道教艺术博物馆。作为现存最完整的金代道教建筑群之一，这里的殿宇布局严谨，气韵犹存。主殿内，明代彩塑玉皇大帝坐像高达三米，雍容威严；后土殿中，后土娘娘与侍女塑像神态生动，充满民间艺术的质朴活力。壁画、悬塑、碑碣……每一处细节都凝聚着古代匠人的智慧，也传递着道教文化的深远内涵。

In Xinghuacun Town near Fenyang City lies one of the best-preserved Taoist architectural complexes from the Jin Dynasty—Taifu Taoist Temple. Within its grounds, a renowned set of Ming Dynasty colored sculptures is well worth seeing. In the main hall, a seated statue of the Jade Emperor, nearly three meters tall, occupies the central position. In the Houtu Hall, the sculptures of the Earth Goddess and her attendants are vivid and lifelike, exuding the vitality and energy of folk art. The temple’s murals, colored sculptures, suspended sculptures, and steles are not only rich in Taoist themes but also showcase the outstanding artistic achievements of ancient China.