Kaishan Temple

History

The current temple was founded during the Tang dynasty, prior to the founding of Xincheng in 832 CE. In 929 CE, Xincheng was walled, with Kaishan Temple located in the northeast corner of the walled town. During this time the temple was known to locals as ‘Dasi’, literally, ‘Big Temple’. The oldest structure that is currently standing at the temple site is the main hall, which according to a date written on a beam within the temple, was built during the Liao dynasty in 1033. By the sixteenth century, the temple had become very large, but by the early 20th century it was in decline. In 1928, the main hall became a Sun Yat-sen educational hall, and ceased to function as a temple. During the Cultural Revolution, many houses were built on the grounds of the temple, damaging the temple's surroundings. In 2001, a restoration project funded by the government began with the goal of returning the temple to its prior state.