Marquis Wu Temple

The Marquis Wu Temple, surrounded by pines and cypresses, was built to commemorate Zhuge Liang, a famous statesman and strategist in the Period of Three Kingdoms. Among nine temples preserved around the country, this one in Nanyang ranks only next to the temple in Chengdu. Located in Wolonggang, Nanyang City, it is where Zhuge liang once lived.

Zhuge Liang, also named Kong Ming, was born in the Eastern Han Dynasty. His father died when he was young, then he followed his uncle and finally settled in Nanyang, where Zhuge Liang studied hard on politics, economy, and all the political opinions of different schools. Afterwards, as the adviser of Liu Bei (who became the king of Shu Kingdom later), he contributed enormously to the establishment of Shu Kingdom. As the most renowned statesman and strategist in the period, he commanded in many famous battles such as the Burnings of Bowangpo and the Red Cliffs, Capturing and Releasing Meng Huo (a rebel leader of ethnic group) Seven Times, the Six Expeditions to Qishan and so on. In recognition of his dedication and loyalty, a title of nobility was conferred upon him as “Marquis Wu”. In the Jin Dynasty, the local people in Nanyang built a temple in memory of him on Wolonggang. Long years of war had wrecked it repeatedly. It was not until the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty that the temple was fully restored. In recent years, repairing has been done; the temple has become a well-known tourism destination.

There is a tablet hung up at the gate, which reads Qian Gu Ren Long (literally a great hero in history). Walking up the stairs and through Steles Hall and Fairy Bridge, one may face Dabai Hall, the main architecture in the temple. The statue of Zhege Liang is right in the middle, with his two sons standing on his two sides. Outside the hall are hung all kinds of tablets, couplets and on each wall is inscribed works of men of letters in history. It is really a display of Chinese calligraphy styled by scripts as true, cursive, seal and clerical. Across the hall stands a thatched cottage where Zhuge Liang studied.

Outside the cottage are sights as Gubai Pavilion, Liangfu Rock, Yeyun Hut, Ningyuan Tower, Banyue Terrace, Sangu Hall, Xiaohong Bridge, Laolong Hole and Baoqi Rock, all of which are reputed as “Ten Sights of Wolong”. Among the beautiful places, the statues of Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu were made vividly in San'gu Hall and Guanzhang Hall. To enable the tourists to have a better understanding of the life and ambitions of Zhuge Liang, in Ningyuan Tower, a brief account was written about the general political, economical and cultural situations in the Period of Three Kingdoms.

Around the corridors and walls in the temple there are more than 300 steles, numerous tablets and couplets. The inscriptions on them show great skills of carving and calligraphy. The craftsmen carved the works into the wooden tablets, which show great skills. The steles, tablets and couplets in the temple embody ancient literature, calligraphy and painting and have become a great treasure of art to attract tourists all over the world.

Publishes at : 07-12-13 20:35

Url : http://www.asiavtour.com/China_He%27nan_Nanyang_Attractions_a1044_s4_c11275.html