There is a saying, "Shanxi has witnessed 5,000 years of civilization." According to statistics, "there are only four Tang Dynasty structures remaining in the country, all of which are in Shanxi; there are only a few over a hundred pre-Song Dynasty structures remaining, with 70% of them located in Shanxi;there are also more than 10,000 Ming and Qing Dynasties structures here." However, until the 1920s and 1930s, the magnificent ancient architecture of Shanxi was mostly just a dusty history. It was the four inspections by Mr. Liang and Ms. Lin that brought the charm of these ancient architectural wonders back to the world.

In September 1933, Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin set out from Beiping (now Beijing) and made their first trip to Shanxi for their first investigation of ancient structures in Datong and the Yungang Grottoes.

In August 1934, while seeking a respite from the summer heat in Shanxi, Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin conducted a series of inspections on ancient temples along the Fen River basin area, including Taiyuan, Wenshui, Fenyang, Xiaoyi, Jiexiu, Lingshi, Huoxian, and Zhaocheng. This was their second trip to Shanxi.

In the winter of 1936, they conducted on-site surveys and mappings of the ancient structures discovered in the Jin-Fen Area in 1934. This was their third trip to Shanxi.

In June 1937, Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin embarked on their fourth trip to Shanxi. This time, they headed straight to Mount Wutai to search for wooden structures of the Tang Dynasty.

During these four trips to Shanxi, they discovered the wooden structure of the Tang Dynasty, Foguang Temple in Mount Wutai, refuting the claim that "there are no Tang Dynasty wooden structures left in China." They also found the Huayan Temple , the Yungang Grottoes, the Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian, the Feihong Pagoda at the Guangsheng Temple, the Shengmu Hall and Flying Bridge across the Fish Pond at Jinci, all of which are significant ancient architectural treasures in Chinese history. Mr. Liang and Ms. Lin's trips to Shanxi have also become a legend in the history of ancient architecture.

Image Source:

Shanxi Radio and Television Station

Shanxi Museum of Ancient Architecture