Historical Records of Yanchi

Yanchi developed in the legendary Tang Dynasty, that is, the Yao and Shun period or earlier. It was very famous in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and it was exported to Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Gansu, Shaanxi and other places in the Han Dynasty. Yuncheng's salt is made of brine, which is white in color, positive in taste and less in impurities. It is one of the famous salt producing areas in China. As a result, "Qin Long in the west, Fan Deng in the south, Yan in the north and Zhou Song in the east" has become an important source of national tax revenue and is known as "the treasure of the country". Nowadays, Yanchi has become an important producing area of various chemical raw materials in our province, and its products are exported to foreign countries, and the export volume of sodium sulfate and alkali sulfide ranks first in the country.

In October of the 12th year of the Tang Dynasty (777), Tang Daizong awarded the title of "Baoying Lingqing Gong" to the pool god, which was included in the sacrificial ceremony and was worshipped forever. Soon, Cui Zong, the minister of rites, built Lingqing Temple (now Chi Temple) in Woyungang, outside the south gate of Yuncheng.

In the fourth year of Song Chongning (1 105), the salt industry was developed, Song Huizong was the patron of Xiechi, Dongchi God was made treasurer, and Xichi God was made Hui Kanggong. In the second year of Daguan (1 108), he became king again and rebuilt Tanzhe Temple. In the Ming dynasty, the title was no longer added at will, and the correct name was "Yanchi God", and large-scale repair and expansion began. Although it was rebuilt many times in the Qing Dynasty, the scale of the temple still retains the shape of the Ming Dynasty.