General Situation of Xiyue Temple
In the vast northwest of China，there is a large scale and respected ancient architecture community，which is called“The Forbidden City of Shaanxi”.On the bank of the surging WeiShui River，a place where immortals yearn for love spread the beautiful stories，known as“the hometown of Baolian Lantern”.A thousand-year sacrificial temple at the foot of Taihua mountain was known as“the First Temple of the Five Mountains”.In the eastern part of Qinchuan，there is a famous ancient stele gathering and singing place called “small stale Forest”.It is the epitome of the rise and fall of China's feudal dynasty and the model of Chinese mountain sacrifice civilization.This is the famous Xiyue Temple.
Xiyue Temple is located in the east of section of ancient pedestrian street Yuemiao，Huayin city，Shaanxi Province.It is about 5 kilometers away from HuaShan Mountain in the south，located in the Golden Triangle of Huang-wei-luo river.It's the best place to sacrifice Huashan mountain，15 kilometers of Tongguan in the east，2.5 kilometers away from Hayin old city in the west，and 5 kilometers away from Weihe River in the north.It is located in the golden triangle area of Huanghe River，Weihe River，Luohe River and is the provincial thorough fare.Covering an area of 120，000 square meters，Xiyue Temple is the largest existing imperial palace of Ming and Qing Dynasties style in northwest China，with grand scale and strict layout which looks lie The Foridden City of Beijing.It is the place where Chinese emperors of all dynasties offer sacrifices to the God Shaohao of Huashan Mountain.It was founded in the first year of Yuanguang（134BC）of Emperor Wudi of the western Han Dynasty.It was originally called Jiling palace，and used to be called Xiamiao temple，Xiyue Huashan temple，the Shrine ofJintianwang and Huayue temple.Commonly known as the Great Temple，the Imperial Temple，it was called Xiyue Temple since Ming Dynasty until today.Xiyue Temple has a history of more than 2，100 years since it was founded in the Han Dynasty.It has been built and renovation in Han，Wei，Sui，Tang，Song，Yuan，Ming，Qing Dynasties.In particular，the large scale renovation of Xiyue Temple in the forty second year（177）of the Qianlong reign of Qing Dynasties has determined today's magnificent palace building community，double city-style “R i” character structure and six entry courtyard pattern.The temple is located in the north and faces the south.It is 525 meters long in the north and south，225 meters wide in the east and west.The axis runs through it，east and west are symmetrical.It is surrounded by the inner city.There are many cornices at the four corners of the city wall.
Since Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty，more than 100 emperors including Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty visited Xiyue Temple to worship Huashan God.In addition Emperor Kangxi，Qianlong，Tongzhi，Guangxu，Cixi，Prince Guo，Princes of the Qing Dynasty and their relatives and nobles inscribed plaques and poems for Xiyue Temple.Those all add elegance of the royal sacrificial temples of Xiyue Temple.
After the founding of The People's Republic of China，the Party and government attached great importance to the protection of cultural relics.In 1988，Xiyue Temple was approved by the State Council as a national key cultural relics protection unit.In 1998，the central province and municipal governments has invested nearly 50 million yuan to renovate Xiyue Temple in the largest scale since the founding of the P.R.China.After the renovation，the main buildings along the central axis are：Screen wall，Chessboard street，Haoling gate，wang cheng，Urn City，Wufeng building（Meridian Gate），Ling xing gate，Tian wei architecture，Jincheng gate，Jinshui bridge，Haoling Hall，Bedchamber，Houzai gate，Wanghua bridge，Memorial archway of Shaohao's capital，Royal library building，Memorial archway of Rushou，Longevity pavilion，Youyue square and so on.Other ancillary buildings include the hall of the netherworld，Lingguan palace，the pavilion of imperial steles，the pavilion of eight corners of Zanjian and so on.The turrets at the four corners of the city wall are more unique in structure and shap.Now Xiyue Temple is surrounded by a great city and guarded by a corner tower with mountains and rivers，thick and complete，pavilions and pavilions are crisscros，the pines and cypress are hidden in the temple，which is a royal Garden and a great style of immortal palace.(https://www.daowen.com)
Today，Xiyue Temple not only carries the connotation of Huashan Mountain culture，but also its own cultural accumulation has very attractive personality charm：collection of cultural relics，towering ancient and famous trees，a collection of famous monuments，outstanding ancient building，touching myths and legends and so on.Here we can be cautiously about pursuing the future，experience the mysterious and heavy atmosphere of sacrifice and forget to return；sigh that the exquisite and outstanding architectural art；they can cultivate their temperament and comprehend the truth of the road“Three Religions In one”；they Can meditate that the inscriptions with good taste of writing；Can light the magic lamp，and show the true feelings of filial piety and love.
Xiyue Temple，a pearl in Qinchuan，has attracted numerous Emperors，generals，dignitaries，literati，scholars and celebrities to visit.In the new era，it is the responsibility and mission of our cultural relics workers to inherit and protect this millennium heritage site，to let people fully feel the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancient working people，and to make Xiyue temple a position and platform for carrying forward the excellent cultural heritage of Chinese nation.
Editor
June 2019