Xíchuān

Xichuan is the old seat of Xizhou, in the hills of western Shanxi. On Phoenix Mountain west of the town stands the Buddhist monastery of Qianfo An, the Thousand Buddha Hermitage, later known as Little Western Heaven. The monk Dongming founded it in the late Ming, and its main hall became a remarkable setting for painted sculpture. Work begun under the Ming continued into the early Qing, filling the hall with Buddhas, attendants, and miniature heavenly palaces.