Jinci 晋祠 – 3/3 Expansions

Jinci Temple is not just a temple, but a combination of garden and ancient architectures with beautiful natural scenery and valuable cultural relics. 

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The special series about Jinci Temple comes in three parts – the first part “The Origin and Highlights” will give an overview of its origins and the main attractions; part two “Artistic and Cultural Treasures” will dwell on the details of the Song and Yuan dynasties’ sculptures; part three “Expansions” will examine some of the newer attractions built as part of the tourist attraction.

晋祠特別系列分為三部分——第一部分「起源和亮點」將概述其起源和“三绝、三宝、三匾”；第二部分「藝術文化寶藏」將重點介紹宋朝和元代彩塑的細節；第三部分「擴充」將介绍晋祠風景区的其他建筑和新景點。

Table of Contents for Part 3 第三部目录

People’s Garden 人民公園

晋祠的大门外为公园，是1949年在陈家息庐、周家在田别墅、荣家陶然村三处民国时期私家别墅的基础上建成的，存有上生寺、雨花寺、老君庙等历史遗迹。后经5次大规模扩建改造，恢复了下生寺、市 楼、北极阁等历史建筑，新建了东园、潜园、晋文公祠、赵梅生美术馆、唐园、飞龙阁、御井亭、四美亭等仿古建筑，增加了台骀泽、九龙湖、饮马泉湖、中湖、单孔桥、七孔桥、曲桥、湖心岛、湖岸叠石 等水系景观。¹

晋祠公园呈自然式布局。主要景点有伏龙山、圣母殿、九龙湖等景点。晋祠公园内有水面约300余亩、绿地约605亩、建筑面积6670平方米。公园以亭台楼阁、莲池水榭、奇花异草、古树名木著称，栽植300多个品种、40000余株牡丹、玉兰、雪松、银杏、梧桐、黄杨、铁树等名贵花木，既有北方园林的豪放风格，又有南方园林的精巧特色，景色宜人，美不胜收，与晋祠古建筑群浑然一体、密不可分，为国内不可多得的历史文化名园。

晋祠公园承担着植物栽培与研究、管理与养护、休闲娱乐的功能，环境优雅，景色宜人，园内栽植有银杏玉兰、牡丹、水杉等49科，134种，40000余株名贵花木。最南部还有十方奉圣禅寺，相传原为唐代开国大将尉迟恭的别墅。

Eastern Gate Paifang 东门牌坊

The East Gate Archway (was under renovation when I visited in Oct 2025) was built in the Ming Dynasty and is a four-column three-level archway. In 1984, it was moved from another location to its current position. The front sign “Jinci Shengjing” or “Jinci is a wonderful place” was inscribed by Li Ligong, former Party Secretary of the Shanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, in 1984.²

Eastern Gate 東大門

Behind the archway is the main entrance or the Eastern Gate that was rebuilt in 1985. The gate has a single-eaved hip and gable roof that is five bay wide, three bay deep. The main sign “Jinci” “晋祠” is replicated from the Tang stele by Li Shimin, and the couplets are also taken from the same stele.^{3 , 4}

Cross Bridge 十字橋

The cross bridge⁵ is one of the main building on the central axis before entering Jinci proper. Rebuilt in 2007 based on the ancient “Flying Bridge across Fish Pond”, the bridge surface is cross-shaped, 19.9 metres long from east to west, 2.9 metres wide, and 0.9 metres higher than the ground. There are 12 stone pillars to support the cross-shaped bridge surface over the pond.

Tang Garden (Garden Gate) 唐園（又名園門）

The garden embraces several buildings including the Flying Dragon Pavilion, the Changshou Hall, the Wangyue Building, the Liuyun Building, and the Imperial Well Pavilion. Its entry building is three bays in width and three bays in depth with a single-eaved hip and gable roof. There are annexed small rooms in the east, south and north, and corridors on both its south and north sides.⁶

The couple of iron lions in front of the garden gate were made in 1561 during the Jiajing Period of the Ming Dynasty. What is rare about these lions was that the patron and the alms seeker were both female.

After entering the garden gate, you will see a spirit wall 影壁（照壁）that was rebuilt in 2007. With a height of 5 metres and a width of 8.4 metres, it features a carved picture of “Fu (Wealth), Lu (Status) and Shou (Longevity)” “福、禄、寿”.⁷

Flying Dragon Pavilion 飛龍閣（又名主景閣）

Around the spirit wall is the tallest building in the park, Flying Dragon Pavilion 飛龍閣. Rebuilt in 2007, the whole building is located on a rockery cave. Climbing the main pavilion, tourists can catch a bird’s-eye view of the scenery of Tang Garden. You can continue to the central axis can pass through the rockery cave. This is a modern imitation of a pavilion depicted in a painting in the Summer Palace in Beijing.

The couplet“文章千古事，社稷一戎衣” hanging on the Flying Dragon Pavilion was originally inscribed by Zhu Yizun 朱彝尊, a writer in the Qing Dynasty, and the plaque was hung here by later generations. He travelled to the Jin Temple five times and was an admirer of Li Shimin. This couplet not only expressed the author’s admiration for the military strategy of Li Shimin, but also summarised the inevitable law of the rulers of all generations to seize the world by force and consolidate the power through literature and religion.

Emperor’s Rise from Jinyang Sculpture 龙兴晋阳群雕

It is designed by Zhang Xiyu over three years to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of Taiyuan city. It measures 6.99 meters high and 9.5 meters wide. So far it is one of the largest bronze sculptures in Taiyuan. The horse rider in the middle is Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, accompanied by his ministers including Zhangsun Wuji (left rider), Li’s maternal uncle and Li Ji (right rider), and Yuchi Gong (front left), Wei Zheng (front right) and Ma Zhou (back right).

Leaping Water Square 跌水广场

Built in 2007, it is a three-step ornamental waterfall transformed from the original square on the central axis of the park. The whole waterfallt is more than 100 metres long, and the character “卍” is engraved on the edge of the pool.

In addition, a new bridge was built in the square in front of Jinci. There are four pavilions, 36 ginkgo trees transplanted in the central square, and a 13,000-cubic-metre rockery is piled up on the north side, making the square in front of the temple more magnificent.

When Human Becomes God 满天神佛

In the Qing Dynasty, many gods joined the Jinci Temple and shared the same world with the gods of Jin. Take Wenchang Palace and Haotian Temple as an example, they are both expressing their own architectural language with the help of the existing terrain, and at the same time, they are suitable and integrated with other buildings.

There are also some small and not easily discovered ancestral temples, such as Dongyue Shrine, Sansheng Shrine, Gongshu Zi Shrine, Taitai Temple, Miaoyi Hall, etc. They are scattered all over the Jinci compound. If these gods are connected in series, a huge network of gods of the Jin Temple will be formed.⁸

Wenchang Temple 文昌宫

It was built in unknown years and rebuilt in 1773 during the Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty. The main structure is composed of a pavilion above and a cave below. The upper Wenchang Pavilion enshrines Emperor Wenchang, the god of scholarly honour and official rank. The Wenchang Palace, Sarira Reproduction Pagoda and Dakui Pavilion which used to stand outside Jinci all put the Kui star god on the shrine for blessings in literature and imperial examination.

On both sides are poetry rooms where the Poetry of Jinci’s Sceneries 《晋祠全景诗》 is carved on the walls, which was compiled by Yang Eryou 杨二酉, an officer of the Imperial academy and written by Yang Yu 杨堉, a calligrapher in Qing Dynasty,

The lower part is Seven Sages of Jinshui River Shrine where sacrifices are offered to the seven sages related to the Jinshui River including Li Bai and Wang Qiong.

Juntian Musical Terrace 钧天月台

Built during the Qianlong Period (1736-1796 AD) of the Qing Dynasty, it is a building open on three sides with a round ridge hip and gable roof in the front and a single-eaved hip and gable roof in the back. The structure is succinct and the carvings are delicate, representative of Qing Dynasty buildings in Jinci. “Juntian” was quoted from Master Lie-King Mu of Zhou Dynasty and refers to the place where heavenly God lives. Each year on the eighth day of the first lunar month, local people used to stage operas on the terrace as sacrifice to Guan Yu. The plaque of Juntian Musical Platform is written by Zhang Han, who is a well-known contemporary archeologist and palaeographer.

Guan Di Temple 關帝廟

Built in unknown years, but it is known to be rebuilt in 1795 during the Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty. There is a statue of Guan Yu (Guan Shengdijun or Guan Di, from Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) in its hall. Guan Yu, style name Yunchang, was a famous general during the late Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms Era. Upon him various titles have been bestowed from one dynasty to another, for example, in the Qing Dynasty, such a title reached as long as 26 characters.

There are over 80 mural paintings of the Qing Dynasty around the hall, depicting the life stories of Guan Yu with realistic style and bright colours. They are treasures for the picture-story art in the Qing Dynasty.

Dongyue Shrine 東嶽廟

Also known as Mount Tai Temple, it enshrines Emperor Dongyue. It was built no later than the Yuan Dynasty and repaired in 1567 during the Longqing Period of the Ming Dynasty. Inside are mural paintings of the 72 sections of the nether world and judges of the hell. Emperor Dongyue is the God of Mount Tai, who controls life and death with the duties of managing the nether world and blessing the people and the country as Mount Tai is believed by ancient people to be the origin of mountains and dwelling of gods. A cypress tree stands in the southwest of its courtyard, which was planted during the West Zhou Dynasty and is about 3000 years old.

Buddha’s Temple 奉聖寺

It was built in 662 during the Wude Period of the Tang Dynasty. The full name is Shifangfengsheng Temple, which was written on a plaque granted by Emperor Gaozu of Tang Dynasty. It was originally a villa of Yuchi Jingde, a famous general in the Tang Dynasty, who later donated the place to establish the temple.

The general has left traces in the temple, for example, Guajia Pine, a tree said to hang his armour. The temple has gone through battles with several rises and falls. It currently consists of a temple gate (Jingqing Gate), a stone tablet corridor with inscription of Avatamsaka Sutra, a passage hall (former Erlang Temple) and a main hall (of former Fanglin Temple) and side halls.

Maitreya Hall 弥勒殿

It was built in 1280 during the Zhiyuan Period of the Yuan Dynasty. It was originally the Erlang Temple in Fenyang County, Shanxi and relocated here in 1932. It enshrines the Maitreya Buddha and Skanda. There are also statues of Yuchi Jingde who was a famous general in the Tang Dynasty, Zhiman who was the first abbot of the temple and the eight eminent monks in the Tang Dynasty such as Xuanzang, and a mural painting of dharmapalas on its west wall. All are works of the 1990s.

Mahavira Hall 大雄宝殿

It was first built in 1069 during the Xining Period of the Northern Song Dynasty and rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty. It was originally the main hall of the Fanglin Temple in the Mazhuang Village, Taiyuan city and relocated here in 1981. It enshrines 9 statues including Sakyamuni, Samantabhadra and Manjusri. It also has mural paintings of Preaching Buddha and making Buddhism Speech, all of which are works of the 1990s.

Guanyin Hall 观音殿

1t was built io 1983. There are 19 sculptures in the hall including Guanyin Bodhisattva, Sudhana, Nāgakanya and 16 arhats, all of which are works of the 1990s. Guanyin Bodhisattva or Avalokitesvara is one of the four principal bodhisattvas in Chinese Buddhism. He is believed to be a bodhisattva of infinite compassion and mercy in Buddhism. Anyone in deep trouble only needs to recite his name, then the bodhisattva wilt hear immediately and come to help people out.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Hall 地藏殿

It was built in 1933. There are 19 sculptures in the hall including Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and ten kings of hell, all of which are works of the 1990s, Dizang Bodhisattva or Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is one of the four principal bodhisattvas in Chinese Buddhism,

Stupa Yard 浮屠院

Stupa means pagoda. It is also called Pagoda Yard as the Sarira Reproduction Pagoda stands here. It was built in 1748 during the Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty with five monk’s rooms on each of its north, east and west sides, which used to be monk’s dorm of the Fengsheng Temple. In the quiet and secluded yard, age-old cypress trees tower to the sky. For example, the Fanglie cypress in the west is about 1000 years old. The yard leads to the Buddha’s Temple on the south and links to the Retaining Mountain Garden on the west. At present, Exhibition Hall of Stone Carvings of the Avatamsaka Sutra (Tang Dynasty) is located here.

Sarira Reproduction Pagoda 舍利生生塔

It was first built during the Kaihuang Period (581-600 AD) of the Sui Dynasty, renovated in the Song Dynasty, and rebuilt in 1751 during the Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty. The stone pagoda is an octagonal seven-storied structure standing 38m high with four doors and inscriptions on each floor. The inscriptions are all written by Yang Eryou, a passionate protector and advocator of Jinci culture during the Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty. Its top is decorated with eight coloured glaze dragons. When the sun sets, rosy clouds all over the sky, the ancient pagoda seems to glow. “Pagoda with rosy clouds” is one of the eight external sceneries of Jinci.

Shrine of Famous People

Besides deities, famous people are enshrined within Jinci as later generations build memorials for them as they contributed to the welfare of the Taiyuan people.

Gongshu Zi Shrine 公输子祠

Also known as Lu Ban Temple 鲁班庙, it was built in 1714 during the Kangxi Period of the Qing Dyuasty and renovated in 1760 during the Qianlong Period. Gongshu Zi is the respectful address of Lu Ban 鲁班, whose family name is Gongshu and given name Ban, also known as Gongshu Pan 公输盘 or Gongshu Ban. He came from the Lu Kingdom during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) so he is commonly known as Lu Ban. The famous skilled craftsman in ancient times is revered by later generations as the founder of Chinese architecture. The east-facing temple occupies a commanding position in a quiet and beautiful environment.

Taitai Temple 台骀庙

Its construction was started by Gao Ruxing in 1533 during the Jiajing Period of Ming Dynasty, who was born in Dongzhuang, Shanxi and Deputy Surveillance Commissioner of Zhejiang Province. It was repaired in later years. Tai Dai’s statue is enshrined here. Tai Dai is an offspring of Emperor Shaohao, a hero to regulate waterways in the remote ages of China.⁹

He was revered as God of Fenhe River because of the merits in harnessing the river, Legend has it that he was the ancestor of the people with the surname Zhang. He was conferred the god title of Duke Changning together with Shuyu of Tang during the Later Jin Dynasty (936-947).

Wang Qiong Shrine 王琼祠

Also known as Wang Gongxianggong Shrine. It was built at the end of the Jiajing Period of the Ming Dynasty to enshrine Wang Qiong, a high-ranking official who served four emperors. Wang Qiong (1459-1532), style name Dehua, also known by the pseudonym Jinxi, was born in Taiyuan County, Shanxi. He took charge of the Revenue, War and Personnel successively through out the reigns of four emperors and received the posthu mous name of Gongxiang. The shrine has a plaque written with “Shan Gao Shui Chang” hanging above the door, meaning lasting forever as the high mountains and long rivers. In front of the shrine stand a pair of 500-year old gingko trees, male in the south and female in the north. There is also a bridge called Yangzhi, meaning great admiration.

Conclusion 結語

This concludes the series about Jinci. It takes about half a day to take a close look of the historic parts and would easily take another half a day to cover the parks and the Hanging Urn Mountain 懸甕山 behind Jinci.

Like what they say, “You have never been to Taiyuan if you have not seen Jinci.” “不到晋祠，枉到太原。”

It was mentioned, for a look at Chinese history, look at Shenzhen for the last decade, Shanghai for the last century, Beijing for last millennium, Shaanxi for three thousand years, and Shanxi for five thousand years. At that time, I didn’t believe it, but the trip to Jinci gave me a new understanding and perception of it!

中國歷史，十年看深圳 ，百年看上海 ，千年看北京 ，三千年看陝西 ，五千年看山西 。當時，有些不太相信，但晉祠之行，令我對其有了新的認識與感悟！

About Jinci Temple 晋祠简介

Bibliography :

1. 第二篇 第三章 晋祠公园 太原市园林局网站 [引用日期2022-07-29]
   四美亭
   重建于2007年，青瓦卷棚扇形亭，面阔五间，西壁设四大美女（西施、王昭君、貂蝉、杨玉环）砖雕，三周勾栏，设美人靠，为游人休息凉亭，在此观景畅抒幽情，景致最佳，故有良辰、美景、赏心、乐趣“四美”的雅称。
   天池
   又名饮马泉，扩建于2007年，面积20余亩。传东魏高欢（496~547）、唐太宗李世民（599～649）、宋太祖赵匡胤（927~～976）均饮马于此，留有“翻似天池里，腾波龙种生”诗句，故也称“御井”。现存有直径1米的六角形（里口为圆形）大石圈1个，泉水缓缓从其下的泉眼中涌出，池边有大唐李世民饮马塑像，栩栩如生。
   台骀泽（又名南湖）
   1959年依地形地貌挖掘而成，占地面积6万平方米，东面凹地大面积种植莲花，东南处建界湖亭一座，西岸设映月楼等建筑，北岸设码头和南湖大厅。历史上，从晋祠到东庄营水域面积很大，相传台骀为汾水之神，故称台骀泽。台骀不仅是山西太原晋祠最早的民间传说与人文历史，他被称为汾河之神始于《左传•昭公元年》，生前有功于后人，后世尊奉为神，其祠庙在晋祠附近有两座。
   据《左传•昭公元年》记载，古代金天氏有裔子名味，为玄冥师，即治水的官员，生了允格和台骀两个儿子，台骀善于治水，曾成功疏导汾河、汾洮二水，因治理水患很有成就，颛顼帝把他封到汾河流域做官，对汾河的治理意味着对山西有拓荒之勋，被后人誉为“开发山西第一人”。
   1959年晋祠公园对位于公园东南部的南湖进行扩建，依地形地貌挖掘出近90亩的湖区，种花栽树，使之与湖光山色构成一幅动人的画面。
   20世纪70～80年代初，是南湖景区最为繁盛的年代。当时，南湖西岸紧邻晋祠虹鳟鱼场，可供游人垂钓；北岸设游船码头，供游人荡舟。80年代中叶因地下水断流而干涸。到2003年再次清淤、防渗、注水，恢复了南湖往日的景观。2007～2009年扩大湖水面积，进行南湖的开挖和防渗工程，在湖岸东南角建曲廊一处，铺设4米宽青石板的环湖漫步道，增建单拱桥、三孔桥、五孔桥、七孔桥，驳岸采用自然叠石、软驳岸等方式处理，形成生态慢坡坡、叠石、水榭平台相结合的水域景观。
   九龙湖（又名北湖）
   位于公园东北部，1954年依地形而挖，形似葫芦，占地面积4万余平方米。依地形地貌形成瀑布倾泻，湖心岛屿、曲桥、拱桥供游人、车辆通往，形成较完美的湖面。湖南岸建凉亭、码头及管理用房。湖西筑南北向石堤一道，西堤上雕刻汉白玉龙首9个，由龙口吐水，故人们称之为九龙湖。
   藕香榭
   位于东大门外南湖旁，歇山顶式四角六柱临水建筑，落座其上，眼界开阔，居高临下，游客可在此凭栏观莲。榭：建在水上的亭子。登上藕香榭可观莲垂钓，景色迷人，藕香扑鼻，故起名“藕香榭”。
   枕流亭
   重建于民国二十年（1931），匾额为2007年著名书法家赵铁山（字昌燮）的手笔。
   长廊 位于陈家息庐南面，南北曲折，长30余米，宽2.5米，为卷棚顶式，全木结构。 ↩︎
2. 第二篇 第三章 晋祠公园 太原市园林局网站 [引用日期2022-07-29]
   背面匾额由姚奠中（原名豫泰，字奠中，别署丁中，国学大师、教育家、书法家）题“唐晋斯源”。意为古唐和晋国的历史起源于此。
   晋祠即为纪念晋国的开国诸侯—唐叔虞而建。同时，晋祠自古便被称作古唐村。据《史纪•晋世家》记载，姬虞是周武王的小儿子，其兄周成王姬诵将他封到古唐国任诸侯后，人们便称他为唐叔虞。“唐”是地名，也是国名，夏、商、周初，晋阳之地均称为“唐”。“叔”在古代指排行年幼的人，古代排行有伯、仲、叔、季的说法，“叔”是老三，后来成为幼小的代称。“虞”是名，本名叫姬虞。唐叔虞在执政后，政通人和，百废俱兴，兴修水利，修建农田，很受人们拥戴。唐叔虞死后，后人感其恩德，便为他立庙祀奉。他的儿子燮父继位后，因其国都建于晋水之源，便改国号为“晋”。即将“唐国”改称“晋国”。唐叔虞也就改称为晋国的开国诸侯，因而祀奉他的唐叔虞祠也就称为晋祠。 ↩︎
3. 第二篇 第三章 晋祠公园 太原市园林局网站 [引用日期2022-07-29] 西向匾额 “宗唐发轫” 是中国著名考古学家、古文字学家—张颔所书，采用大篆体，意为周唐事业开始的地方。对联“赫赫宗周明明哲辅，诞灵降德承文继武，天地可极神威靡坠，万代千龄芳猷永嗣。” ↩︎
4. 第二篇 第三章 晋祠公园 太原市园林局网站 [引用日期2022-07-29] 意为赫赫名垂千古的周朝，有高贤名士为辅佐，开始了智慧、贤德的文治武功。天地有极，而威武神明无穷无尽，千秋万代，刻骨铭心，宏图伟业，承先启后，于此勒石，千古留存。据史载，唐高祖李渊于隋大业十三年（617）起兵灭隋，是由晋阳起兵。当时曾跪拜在唐叔虞脚下，因为唐叔虞是古唐国即晋国的开国诸侯，祈求神灵保佑他们旗开得胜，平定中原，成就帝王大业。李渊将国号定为“唐”，与祈求唐叔虞保佑有密切联系，而且也向往古唐国700多年的盛世局面，他将国家治理得如同古唐国一般风调雨顺，国泰民安。因此，立国号为“唐”。 ↩︎
5. 第二篇 第三章 晋祠公园 太原市园林局网站 [引用日期2022-07-29] 公园的十字桥是中国少有的一种十字桥梁形式，在方形沼内，置12根石桥柱，柱头置木斗拱与梁枋，承石头桥板与石栏杆，石桥面中高两侧面低，木斗拱与梁枋改变了石桥面的推力传递方向，使重量垂直传到桥柱上，桥柱从梁枋荷载角度分布间距宽窄不等。桥梁充分利用材质在3种环境中的特长，石柱水中耐腐，木材韧性与塑性，石桥板耐磨、防火，达到了桥梁坚固、美观、耐久的效果。 ↩︎
6. 第二篇 第三章 晋祠公园 太原市园林局网站 [引用日期2022-07-29] 历史上唐高祖李渊被封为太原留守。唐太宗李世民作为太原公子，年轻时都是在晋阳渡过，所以，李世民对晋祠有着特殊的感情。隋大业十三年（617），李渊父子从晋阳起兵时，曾在唐叔虞祠内祈求唐叔虞的保佑，助他们一臂之力，果然第二年就攻取长安，建立了唐王朝。李世民继位后施行仁政，使经济得到空前发展，人民过上安居乐业的生活，史称“贞观之治”。他虽贵为天子，但对故土仍怀眷念之情，他曾对拜望他的太原故老们说：“飞鸟归故乡，尚有眷恋之情，况且太原是王业所基，岂能忘怀乎？”贞观十九年（645），唐太宗李世民东征高丽归来，在晋阳休养期间，率群臣重游晋祠。故地重游，触景生情，回顾一生，感慨万干，遂于贞观二十年（646）正月二十六日，写下千古名篇《晋祠之铭并序》，后人刻石立碑，源远流长。 ↩︎
7. 第二篇 第三章 晋祠公园 太原市园林局网站 [引用日期2022-07-29] 福星，古称木星为岁星，所在有福，故又称福星。《李商隐北齐歌》：“东有青龙白虎，中含福星包世度。”福星根据人们的善行施赐幸福。禄星，《论语》：“人有命有禄，命者富贵贫贱也，禄者盛衰兴废也。”禄星掌管人间的荣禄贵贱。寿星即南极老人星，《观相玩占》：“老人一星弧矢南，一日南极老人，主寿考，一日寿星。”寿星又叫南极老人，古人认为南极星可以预兆国家寿命的长短，也可给人增寿，是长寿的象征。吉祥图案都画3位老人，寓意“三星高照”，鸿运通达。古称福、禄、寿三神为三星，传说福星司祸福，禄星司富贵贫贱，寿星司生死。三星高照象征着幸福、富有和长寿。有的图案为一位老寿星、一只鹿和一只飞蝠的，亦称之为福、禄、寿。三星也是许多民间绘画的题材，常见福星手拿一个“福”字，禄星捧着金元宝，寿星托着寿桃、挂着拐杖。另外还有一种象征画法，画上蝙蝠、梅花鹿、寿桃，用它们的谐音来表达福、禄、寿的含义。 ↩︎
8. 郭一《权力的神圣性：晋祠圣地的中国礼制建筑》书评, 《文圖學報》第二期 The Second Issue of Journal of Text and Image Studies, 2022, Text and Image Studies Society, https://www.academia.edu/91985198/_文圖學報_第二期_The_Second_Issue_of_Journal_of_Text_and_Image_Studies, accessed 5 Dec 2025 ↩︎ ↩︎
9. 据《左传》所载，上古金天氏有一个儿子叫昧，曾担任“元冥师”(治水官)。昧生了两个儿子，一个叫允格，一个叫台骀。台骀继承父业，很善治水。当颛顼执政时，命台骀担任了水官。台骀在治理汾、洮二水时成绩卓著，保障了太原一带人民的生活。https://www.beyondvision.cn/show/795.html ↩︎