Savoring Antiquity in Winter Shanxi · Jincheng

冬日往往给人以沉寂与寒冷的印象，但对于山西古建筑爱好者而言，这却是欣赏古建筑的绝佳时节。晋城——这座被严重低估的“古建筑天堂”，坐拥72处全国重点文物保护单位，数量位居全国第四。其中，宋金以前的木构建筑达58处，占全国总数的三分之一。

Winter often evokes impressions of stillness and cold, but for enthusiasts of ancient architecture in Shanxi, it is the perfect season to appreciate historical structures. Jincheng, a severely underrated “paradise of ancient architecture,” is home to 72 nationally protected cultural heritage sites, ranking fourth in China. Among these, 58 are wooden structures dating back to the Song and Jin dynasties or earlier, accounting for one-third of the country’s total.

玉皇庙

Yuhuang Temple

若你因《黑神话：悟空》中“天命人”化身为二十八星宿的场景而心驰神往，那么晋城玉皇庙便是这想象的原点。寺庙外观质朴无华，一如北方众多乡间古刹，但踏入殿内，便是另一重天地。二百余尊彩塑静立其中，最摄人心魄的莫过于道教二十八星宿造像。这些彩塑将神话题材与人间性情完美融合，或怒目威严，或慈悲含笑，衣带流转如生，神态栩栩如真，被誉为“中国彩塑艺术的巅峰”。立于殿中，仿佛能听见星宿低语，感受到古人如何将浩瀚宇宙与人间信仰铸入泥土与色彩，成就这番跨越维度的美学奇迹。

If you have ever been captivated by the scene in Black Myth: Wukong where the “Destined One” transforms into one of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, then Yuhuang Temple in Jincheng is the origin of this imagination. The temple’s exterior is simple and unadorned, typical of many rural ancient temples in northern China. Yet, stepping inside reveals another world. Over two hundred colored sculptures stand in silence, the most breathtaking being the Daoist Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions. These sculptures perfectly blend mythological themes with human emotions—some stern and dignified, others compassionate and smiling. Their flowing robes and vivid expressions have earned them the title of “the pinnacle of Chinese colored sculpture art.” Standing in the hall, one can almost hear the whispers of the constellations, feeling how ancient artisans infused cosmic vastness and human faith into clay and color, creating an aesthetic miracle that transcends dimensions.

铁佛寺

Tiefo Temple

在晋城，还有一座小巧却惊人的唐代遗构——铁佛寺。寺庙占地仅72平方米，却以“铁佛无锈、彩塑传神”的二十四诸天像名扬天下。这些明代彩塑造型生动、工艺精湛，每一尊的表情与姿态都凝聚着匠人的心神。冬日来此，最好选一个晴日正午。随着太阳缓缓移动，光线悄然越过屋檐，像被一只无形的手牵引，一束一束照亮殿内深处的塑像。那一刻，诸天像仿佛依次苏醒，彩衣流转，面容生动，光影在塑像的衣褶与眼神间跳跃，古韵与光芒交织，堪称“限定的冬日圣景”。