Main Hall of Huayan Temple (Datong). The Mahavira Hall was rebuilt in 1140 under the Jin dynasty (1115–1234). It is nine rooms wide, five rooms deep and covers an area of 1,559-square-metre (16,780 sq ft). On each end of the main ridge is giant Chiwen, a legendary animal with a dragon head and fish tail with colorful glaze and vivid style. They are relics of the Jin (1115–1234) and Ming dynasties (1368–1644).
In the center of the hall enshrines the statues of the Five Tathagathas, which were carved in the Xuande period (1426–1435) of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). Inner walls were painted with 21 frescos in the Guangxu era (1875–1908) of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Statues of the Twenty-Four Protective Deities are also placed within the hall.
Huayan Temple or Huayan Monastery (simplified Chinese: 华严寺; traditional Chinese: 華嚴寺; pinyin: Huáyán Sì) is a Buddhist temple located in Datong, Shanxi, China.
Huayan Temple has been burned down and rebuilt several times. The Mahavira Hall/Main hall and Buddhist Texts Library still preserve the architectural style of the Liao and Jin dynasties (907–1234). It is an artistic complex of ancient Chinese architecture, sculpture, frescoes and inscriptions, as well as a cultural synthesis of religion and politics.