Jinzhou Zhongyi Temple

Jinzhou Zhongyi Temple

Jinzhou Zhongyi Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Jinzhou Zhongyi Temple, also known as Zhongyi Shrine and commonly called Jinzhou Guan Di Temple, was originally situated in the heart of the ancient city of Jinzhou, at the crossroads of South Street, North Street, East Street, and West Street — now the intersection of Jinzhou Pedestrian Street (Stalin Road) and Democracy Street, near Democracy Square. It was a Taoist temple that enshrined Guan Yu, the famous general of the Shu Kingdom during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Every year on the 13th day of the fifth lunar month, Guan Yu’s birthday, a traditional temple fair was held. Unfortunately, between 1949 and 1953, the Jinzhou Guan Di Temple was demolished in stages due to urban development. In the new century, with approval from relevant authorities, the Zhongyi Shrine was relocated to Liujia Store Village (Liujia Store Tun), Erlipu Subdistrict, Jinzhou District (now under the jurisdiction of Dalian Free Trade Zone). Construction began on July 7, 2007, and was completed that winter. The original site had also been home to a demolished temple — a thatched-roof Salt God Temple built with donations from salt workers in the late Qing Dynasty, which retained a nearly 200-year-old large willow tree. During the construction of Zhongyi Shrine, a pair of stone drums was unearthed from the site of the Salt God Temple. Today, Zhongyi Shrine, also known as the Martial God of Wealth Temple, is the only remaining Guan Di Temple in Jinzhou.

Guan Yu (approximately 160–219 AD), originally named Changsheng and later known as Yunchang, was from Xiexian County in Hedong Commandery (present-day Yanhu District, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province). Commonly referred to as “Guan Gong,” “Guan Ye,” or “Guan Di,” he was a renowned general of the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Legends about Guan Yu have been passed down through the ages, especially through the classic Ming Dynasty novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms (full title: Popular Historical Novel of the Three Kingdoms) by Luo Guanzhong, which elevated Guan Yu to a mythical status of loyalty, righteousness, and bravery. To strengthen their rule, emperors throughout various dynasties upheld Guan Yu as the embodiment of loyalty and righteousness, using him as a model for educating the people in patriotism and allegiance. From the Southern and Northern Dynasties to the end of the Qing Dynasty, Guan Yu was successively honored by emperors, progressing through the titles of Marquis, King, Emperor, Sage, and finally Heavenly Deity.

Guan Yu’s religious status grew increasingly revered, and his worship spread widely among the populace, leading to the proliferation of Guan Di Temples across China and in overseas Chinese communities. The largest existing Guan Di Temple is located in Jiezhou, Yuncheng, Shanxi. In Jinzhou, there were once over ten Guan Di Temples, most of which were destroyed during the early years of the People’s Republic of China and the Cultural Revolution. Within the ancient city of Jinzhou alone, there were four Guan Di Temples: Zhongyi Temple in the city center, Sanyi Temple in the northwest corner, Xiaoguan Di Temple on the north side of East Street, and Sanlengwa Small Temple. Other scattered Guan Di Temples in and around Jinzhou included: the Guan Di Temple in Sanli Village outside the north gate of the ancient city, Laoye Temple in Moujiatun, Muijia Village, Huajiatun Subdistrict, Laoye Temple in Dutun, Zhuanjiao Village, Huajiatun Subdistrict, Guan Di Temple in Xinglongtun, Shajia Village, Xingshutun Subdistrict, Laoye Temple in Liujia Tun, Liujia Village, Xingshutun Subdistrict, Laoye Temple in Datuchengzi Tun, Chengxi Village, Xiangying Subdistrict, Guan Di Temple in the town center of Sanlishipu Subdistrict (now under the administration of Pulandian New Area), Guan Di Temple in Ximajiuquan Tun, Majiuquan Village, Sanlishipu Subdistrict (now under Pulandian New Area), Laoye Temple in Laoye Miao Tun, Laoye Miao Village, Sanlishipu Subdistrict (now under Pulandian New Area), Laoye Temple in Wulish village, Shihhe Subdistrict (now under Pulandian New Area), Laoye Temple in Yanchang Tun, Dongjin Village, Desheng Subdistrict, Guan Di Temple in Ximazhao Tun, Majiazi Village, Maqiaozhi Subdistrict (this place name no longer exists), and others. For example, Laoye Miao Village in Sanlishipu was named after the Guan Di Temple, and the village even produced a notable military figure — General Wan Yi, one of the founding marshals of the People's Republic.

There are no written records about the founding date of Jinzhou Zhongyi Temple. However, a local folk rhyme in Jinzhou says: “The Laoye Temple came first, then the city of Jinzhou,” along with subsequent archaeological discoveries, suggesting the temple was built no later than the Liao Dynasty. The current city of Jinzhou was established during the Xingzong reign of the Liao Dynasty (1031–1055 AD), so Zhongyi Temple would not be later than that period either. Most textual records about Zhongyi Shrine come from inscribed stelae, including the 1520 (15th year of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty) “Record of the Renovation of Wuan Temple,” the 1659 (16th year of the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, or the Xinhai year of Shunzhi) “Stele Record of the Appearance of the Temple of the Divine Lord Guan,” the 1692 (31st year of the Kangxi era) “Stele Record of the Appearance of the Temple of the Divine Lord Guan,” the 1756 (21st year of the Qianlong era) “Record of the Renovation of the Guan Di Shrine,” and the 1894 (20th year of the Guangxu era) “Record of the Renovation of the Temple of the Bronze Statue of the Divine Lord Guan.” It is said that these stone tablets were stored in Zhenwu Temple in the northeast corner of Jinzhou City (now the site of the Jinzhou Real Estate Management Office, where only two large ginkgo trees remain) after the temple was demolished, but their whereabouts afterward are unknown. In 2000, during construction at the Jinzhou Real Estate Management Office compound, several stone steles were excavated from underground, one of which was the 1894 “Record of the Renovation of the Temple of the Bronze Statue of the Divine Lord Guan” — the only surviving stele from Zhongyi Shrine. After being discovered, it was preserved in the former Jinzhou Museum courtyard (on the site of the former Jinzhou Guild Hall at the northern end of Xiangying Square, now located at No. 888 Yong’an Avenue, North Sanli, Jinzhou). After the reconstruction of the office of the Vice-Governor of Jinzhou, the stele was moved to the stele forest in the backyard of the Vice-Governor’s Office. When the Zhongyi Shrine in Liujia Store was completed, the stele was again relocated to the shrine’s courtyard.

The earliest known photograph of Jinzhou Zhongyi Temple was taken in the winter of 1894, after Japanese invading forces captured Jinzhou City during the First Sino-Japanese War. The oldest visual records of Jinzhou currently available all come from Japanese publications in 1895, such as the “Japanese-Chinese War Photo Album” (by the Photographic Unit of the Land Survey Department of the Japanese Army General Staff) and the “Meiji 27-28 Campaign Photo Album” (by Kamei Noritsune). This war, triggered by the issue of Korea, took place between China and Japan during the 20th to 21st years of the Guangxu reign (1894–1895 AD), or the 27th to 28th years of the Meiji era in Japan, and ultimately ended in China’s defeat — marking one of the most humiliating chapters in modern Chinese history.

In people’s memories, Zhongyi Temple was the scale it reached after renovations during the late Qing Dynasty. The temple faced south, with a screen wall standing before its mountain gate, and a pair of flagpoles on the north side of the screen. The lintel of the mountain gate bore a plaque reading “Temple of the Bronze Statue Sacred Emperor,” with “Renovated in the 15th Year of the Zhengde Era of the Former Ming” inscribed on the left and “Erected Respectfully in the 17th Year of the Guangxu Era of the Great Qing” on the right. Inside the courtyard, in front of the main hall, stood a Ming Dynasty-built bell tower and drum tower, both constructed of blue bricks. The main hall was a three-bay, flush-gable, brick-and-timber structure. Above the central door hung a plaque reading “Wuan King Hall,” and inside the hall was enshrined a bronze statue of Guan Yu, flanked by clay sculptures of Guan Ping and Zhou Cang. Nowadays, these images can only be found in old photographs and people’s memories.

The present-day Zhongyi Shrine is located about 80 meters north of Liujiadian Tun on National Highway 201 (Heda Highway). When passing by this section of National Highway 201, you can see a large signboard on the south side of the road, reading “Martial God of Wealth Temple.”

Zhongyi Shrine consists of a mountain gate and a main hall. The mountain gate bears an engraved Traditional Chinese characters plaque reading “Zhongyi Shrine,” signed “Dinghai Year –.” It’s unclear who the “–” refers to — could it be the former Vice President of China? The gate is flanked by an engraved couplet in Traditional Chinese: “Loyal heart shines through the ages, unifying kings and emperors; righteous courage soars like clouds, uniting brothers in a single day.” On either side of the entrance stand two majestic stone lions, while the gate and threshold are distinctly aged, exuding an antique charm — definitely not modern. The left gate bears the character “?” (possibly “Blessing”), and the right gate the character “戬” (meaning “to ward off evil”), together symbolizing “abundant harvest and good fortune.” On the right side of the mountain gate stands a tall flagpole flying a yellow banner inscribed with “Dan Tian Fu Mo Yuan” (Heavenly Court to Subdue Demons).

Upon entering the mountain gate, there is a “Nine-Dragon Wall” covered with glass, which unfortunately hinders photography. Behind the Nine-Dragon Wall hangs a printed plaque introducing Jinzhou Zhongyi Temple. Passing the Nine-Dragon Wall, the left side houses a vegetarian dining hall, and the right side a guest room. In the western part of the courtyard stands a stone stele from the 1894 (18th year of the Guangxu era) eighth lunar month, inscribed with the “Record of the Renovation of the Temple of the Bronze Statue of the Divine Lord Guan.” The stele’s top is missing, and most of its Regular Script engraving is still legible. The inscription mentions Lianshun, the Vice-Governor of Jinzhou, and his elder brother Jin Shun. This stele was erected at the outbreak of the First Sino-Japanese War, and the list of donors inscribed on the back includes officials and local gentry stationed in Jinzhou (referring to the Qing-era Jinzhou, covering today’s Zhongshan, Xigang, Shahekou, Ganjingzi, Lushunkou, Jinzhou, Changhai counties, and the southern part of Pulandian City) such as Liu Shengxiu, Zhao Huaiye, Ma Jinxiu, Gong Yuanyou, Liu Chaotai, Fo’erjing’a, and Tan Guangqing — offering valuable insights into the area’s history at the time. Among them, Liu Shengxiu, Zhao Huaiye, and Ma Jinxiu were generals of the Ming Army and participated in the First Sino-Japanese War. Liu Shengxiu, along with his uncle Liu Mingchuan (a key figure of the Qing Self-Strengthening Movement and Taiwan’s first governor), founded the famed Ming Army, though its performance in the war was mediocre. Notably, Zhao Huaiye (Liu Shengxiu’s brother-in-law) was infamous for fleeing — he surrendered Dalian Bay Fort without firing a shot. In contrast, Ma Jinxiu was a true hero who bravely resisted the Japanese invaders and is respected to this day. Gong Yuanyou and Liu Chaotai were also Ming Army generals, though no written records about them have been found. Tan Guangqing served as the Tongzhi (deputy magistrate) of the Jinzhou Coastal Defense Office (commonly called the “People’s Office”) and was a beloved local official. In the central northern part of the courtyard stands a granite pavilion housing a granite sculpture of Guan Yu. On either side of the pavilion are stone archways inscribed with “Noble Spirit” and “Righteousness for a Thousand Autumns.” To the right of the pavilion grows a nearly 200-year-old willow tree, still vigorous and leafy.

Behind the stone pavilion is a moon gate, behind which two stone drums unearthed locally are displayed. Passing through the moon gate, the northern side leads to the main hall of the temple — the Guan Di Hall, a three-bay, flush-gable, brick-and-timber structure. On the east and west sides are side halls: the Wenchang Hall and the Guanyin Hall. Above the main hall hangs a wooden plaque inscribed with “Guan Di Hall,” signed “Dinghai Winter –.” The corridor pillars display a couplet: “Righteousness and loyalty endure through the annals of history; noble spirit resonates through the ages.” The central shrine enshrines a clay sculpture of Guan Yu, flanked by statues of Guan Ping and Zhou Cang, with murals depicting famous episodes from Guan Yu’s life painted on the surrounding walls. On the east and west sides of the courtyard are wing rooms dedicated to various deities, including the Dragon King, Medicine Buddha, Child-Giving Guanyin, and the God of Wealth.

Scenic Area Address: Intersection of Stalin Road and Democracy Street, Jinzhou District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province

Transportation: In Dalian, take bus routes 101, 805, 201, 801, etc., to reach the site.