Songjiang Chen Public Memorial Temple

Songjiang Chen Public Memorial Temple

The Songjiang Chen Public Memorial Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Chen Public Memorial Temple was originally located at the end of Xita Lane in Songjiang District. At the end of 1999, due to the reconstruction of Zhongshan Second Road in Songjiang, and with the approval of the Shanghai Municipal Cultural Relics Management Committee, the temple was relocated and rebuilt to its original design within Shanghai Square Tower Garden, and completed in June 2000. In July 1985, the Chen Public Memorial Temple was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Songjiang County.

Chen Huacheng, a native of Tong’an in Fujian, originally served as the Admiral of the Fujian Navy and later as the Governor of the Jiangnan Navy, stationed in Songjiang Prefecture. Upon taking office, he personally inspected the front lines and supervised defensive preparations. At dawn on June 16, 1842, British gunboats launched an attack on the Wusong Fort. Chen Huacheng was stationed at the West Fort and led his troops in a brave defense. Due to the cowardice of the commander at the East Fort, it fell to the enemy. The British forces then attacked the West Fort both from land and sea, leaving Chen to fight alone. Before his death, he pointed to the sky and shouted three times, “Good men!” He died a heroic death. Songjiang Prefecture erected this memorial temple in honor of this national hero.

The existing Chen Public Memorial Temple consists of two courtyards. The entrance hall has three bays and seven-rafter beams, with bracket sets (dougong) under the eaves. The spandrel panels between the dougong are carved with floral patterns. Based on the characteristics of the elephant trunk-shaped ang (a type of bracket arm), the architecture is believed to be of a relatively recent period. The original site of the Chen Public Memorial Temple was the Xiujia Garden of Wang Xuilin, a Grand Secretary during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty. In the Daoguang era, it was purchased by Zhu Wentuan and others, who built the Chen Public Memorial Temple on the site. The temple enshrines a memorial tablet for Chen Huacheng, along with memorials for other locals from Songjiang who died in the same battle, such as Xu Lin, Xu Dahua, and Qian Jinyu. The temple was destroyed by fire during the First Year of the Tongzhi reign. In the 24th Year of the Guangxu reign, Huang Enxi, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations from Qingpu County, initiated its reconstruction. On December 27, 1912, Dr. Sun Yat-sen visited Songjiang to inspect the work of the local Tongmenghui branch. When arrangements were made for his lodging, he said, “Spending the night with Mr. Chen tonight is a great honor in life.” That night, he stayed at the Chen Public Memorial Temple.