Tiger Head Guan Yu Temple

Tiger Head Guan Yu Temple

Tiger Head Guan Yu Temple is a protected cultural heritage site of Heilongjiang Province.

Tiger Head Guan Yu Temple is located in Hulin City, Heilongjiang Province. Built during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty, as one of the earlier Qing-era structures in Heilongjiang,

it was included in the 1981 edition of "A Guide to Scenic Spots in China" as one of China's notable attractions. In 1984, it was designated as a county-level cultural relic site. In 1986, it was recognized as a provincial-level cultural heritage site by the provincial government. It is situated directly south of Hutou Town on the left bank of the Ussuri River, nestled against the mountain and near the water. On the western side, there is a stone staircase with 84 steps leading up to the hill behind the temple. The foundation of the temple is 17 meters long and 4.54 meters high, built with wood. The structure is surrounded by decorative flower walls, with black tiles covering the roof. It features double eaves, flying corners, and interlocking brackets. A couplet hangs on both sides of the temple gate: the upper line reads, “Those who truly know me are only found in the Spring and Autumn Annals,” and the lower line says, “My greatest wish is to learn from Confucius.” The temple has a two-courtyard layout. The front hall contains eight main wooden pillars, each carved with the design of two dragons playing with a pearl. Weapon racks on both sides display golden melons, axes, ceremonial halberds, spears, swords, spears, and halberds. Walking into the covered corridor, there are four parallel main pillars with stone drum bases at the bottom and carved dragon tails in swallowtail shape at the top, facing four painted folding screens illustrating the “Hundred Antiquities.” Opening the screens leads to the main hall of the temple, which houses seven statues — at the center is Guan Yu, with six accompanying figures below: on the left are the Earth Store Bodhisattva, the Judge, and Guan Ping; on the right are the Mountain God, a minor demon, and Zhou Cang. Behind the statues and on the surrounding colored screens are paintings such as “Five Dragons Hiding in Clouds,” “Zhao Gao Seeking Longevity,” “Pine and White Crane,” and “Scenes from the Three Kingdoms.”

Guan Yu (162?–220), of Han ethnicity, was born during the Yanxi era of Emperor Huan of the Eastern Han Dynasty. His courtesy name was Yunchang, originally Changsheng, and he was a native of Xieliang in Hedong (present-day Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province). He was a renowned general of the Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, holding the title of General of the Vanguard and Marquis of Hanshou, as well as being a military strategist. After his death, he was widely revered by the people and honored by successive imperial courts, eventually being worshipped as the Divine Lord Guan. In Buddhism, he is known as Sangharama Bodhisattva and respectfully called “Guan Gong.” Later rulers revered Guan Yu as the “Martial Saint,” placing him alongside Confucius, the “Literary Saint.”

Following Liu Bei

Guan Yu’s original courtesy name was Changsheng, later changed to Yunchang. In his early years, he fled his hometown due to trouble and went to You… More details about Guan Yu++