According to the first statement, it is speculated that Xiyan Temple was built before or during the Song and Liao Dynasties. This statement is not groundless. Datong was the capital of Liao Dynasty, and Buddhist culture flourished, so the title of "Datong" also appeared at this time. Huayan Temple, a famous royal temple in Liao Dynasty, was built at this time. Many evidences of Buddhist culture in this period were also unearthed in Datong archaeological excavation. Xiyan should be taken from Huayan Jing, which was popular in the north at that time, and become the supreme classic of Mahayana Buddhism, so it is more reasonable to name the temple after this. At the same time, Xiyan Temple also sits west facing east, which conforms to the folk custom of Qidan, but there is no strong evidence.
According to the second statement, it is speculated that Xiyan Temple was built in the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, formerly known as Xiyan Temple. Legend has it that when the temple was built in the Ming Dynasty, monks dug up a huge toad stone at the original site, hence the name Xiyan. Datong City was a nine-sided town in Ming Dynasty, which was famous as a strong city. There are inscriptions on the site, which are also recorded in the Records of Datong Prefecture. The construction of the temple was supported by the royal family, representing the king, and was presided over by the local Feng family. However, some people doubt this statement. Seeing folk songs, there are some legends about building temples in Ming Dynasty in Xiawangjiayuan Village of Xiyan Temple. There is a lot of evidence that the temple was built in the Ming Dynasty on the basis of renovation and expansion, so some people think that this can only prove that it was built before the Ming Dynasty, and it is impossible to determine the true age.
Some people think that Xiyan Temple is located near Xiyuan, the royal hunting ground of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and adjacent to Yungang Grottoes in the west. Buddhism prevailed in the Northern Wei Dynasty, so Datong, as the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty, naturally prospered. But this is far-fetched.
In addition, Han also said two sentences. In short, everything needs more research by scholars.
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