關羽,字(zi)云長(chang),其(qi)故(gu)里是三國時(shi)河(he)東解梁(liang)常(chang)平里。傳(chuan)說,當(dang)年(nian)(nian)他殺死了(le)名叫呂熊的大(da)地(di)主(zhu)大(da)惡(e)霸以(yi)后,便逃(tao)走在外。惡(e)霸和官府互相勾結捉(zhuo)拿關羽,并要對(dui)關羽的家人誅(zhu)滅九族,斬(zhan)草(cao)除根。當(dang)時(shi)常(chang)平里姓關的多逃(tao)到(dao)現在的古村一(yi)帶去(qu)避難,而(er)云長(chang)的父母親卻因年(nian)(nian)邁,行走不便投井自盡了(le)。后人為(wei)紀念他的父母親,便在這口井上建(jian)(jian)了(le)一(yi)座塔。關羽去(qu)世以(yi)后,鄉人為(wei)仰慕其(qi)德,又在其(qi)地(di)建(jian)(jian)祠奉(feng)祀。到(dao)了(le)金代(dai),遂建(jian)(jian)成(cheng)了(le)有一(yi)定的建(jian)(jian)筑群體的廟宇,取名“關圣家廟”。
據史書(shu)記載,自明(ming)代(dai)嘉(jia)靖三(san)十四年(1555)以來,對(dui)關(guan)圣家(jia)廟(miao)整修或增(zeng)建(jian)達(da)16次之(zhi)多。故現存建(jian)筑多系(xi)清(qing)代(dai)遺(yi)構。全(quan)廟(miao)總面(mian)積為(wei) 13320平方(fang)米(mi),規模(mo)宏(hong)敞,布局嚴謹(jin)(jin),系(xi)磚木(mu)結構,琉璃瓦(wa)建(jian)筑。廟(miao)內(nei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)宇壯觀,古柏(bo)參天(tian),氣勢非常宏(hong)偉(wei)。廟(miao)前有牌(pai)坊三(san)座,左右木(mu)構,中為(wei)石雕(diao);廟(miao)內(nei)中軸線自前至后,有山門、午門、享殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、關(guan)帝(di)(di)(di)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、娘(niang)(niang)娘(niang)(niang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、圣祖(zu)(zu)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)等六進殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)宇;兩側配(pei)以廂房、配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、回廊(lang),主從有致。關(guan)帝(di)(di)(di)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)面(mian)寬五(wu)(wu)間(jian),四周有圍廊(lang),重檐(yan)九脊頂;殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)木(mu)雕(diao)神(shen)(shen)(shen)龕(kan),裝(zhuang)飾富麗,關(guan)羽(yu)(yu)頭戴冕旒,身著(zhu)帝(di)(di)(di)裝(zhuang),凝神(shen)(shen)(shen)端坐(zuo)于龍椅上;龕(kan)內(nei)外侍者(zhe)四人,恭謙微謹(jin)(jin)。娘(niang)(niang)娘(niang)(niang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)前,有垂花門,左右配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)分(fen)峙(zhi),自成院(yuan)落;殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)寬、深各(ge)(ge)五(wu)(wu)間(jian),前有插廊(lang),內(nei)有神(shen)(shen)(shen)龕(kan),關(guan)夫人鳳冠霞帔端坐(zuo)其中,侍者(zhe)或持帕或握笏,恭身而立。各(ge)(ge)像(xiang)比例適度,神(shen)(shen)(shen)態自若,在清(qing)代(dai)泥(ni)塑中此為(wei)上乘佳作。圣祖(zu)(zu)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)位于廟(miao)中建(jian)筑群(qun)體最后,五(wu)(wu)開間(jian),內(nei)塑關(guan)羽(yu)(yu)的始祖(zu)(zu)忠(zhong)諫公(gong)、曾祖(zu)(zu)先昭公(gong)、祖(zu)(zu)父(fu)(fu)裕昌公(gong)、父(fu)(fu)親成忠(zhong)公(gong),以及羽(yu)(yu)之(zhi)始祖(zu)(zu)、曾祖(zu)(zu)、祖(zu)(zu)父(fu)(fu)的夫人像(xiang),為(wei)其他關(guan)廟(miao)中所未見。關(guan)帝(di)(di)(di)家(jia)廟(miao)內(nei),還(huan)有八角七(qi)層(ceng)磚塔一(yi)座,傳為(wei)關(guan)羽(yu)(yu)父(fu)(fu)母親之(zhi)墓。廟(miao)南古柏(bo)蒼(cang)翠,石碑林立,即(ji)為(wei)關(guan)羽(yu)(yu)的祖(zu)(zu)塋。
常平關(guan)帝廟內(nei),現有碑(bei)刻(ke)22通(tong),其中金(jin)代(dai)1通(tong),明代(dai)7通(tong),清代(dai)13通(tong),民國(guo)1通(tong)。有些碑(bei)刻(ke)記述了流傳的關(guan)羽故(gu)事,是我們研究三(san)國(guo)歷史的珍貴(gui)資料。
常平關帝廟(miao),南靠中條,北臨鹽池,廟(miao)內泥塑(su)尚(shang)存,建筑(zhu)群(qun)體保護較好(hao),交(jiao)通便利,是理想(xiang)的游覽之地。