Yue Temple in Jingjiang

Yue Temple in Jingjiang

Yue Temple in Jingjiang is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Yue Temple in Jingjiang was originally an ancestral shrine built during Yue Fei’s lifetime. The renowned Yue Temples in his hometown of Tangyin, Henan, and by the West Lake in Hangzhou—both famous across the land—were constructed after Yue Fei’s death. Therefore, the Yue Temple in Jingjiang is likely the earliest of its kind in the world.

In the Yue King Temple, the central hall is named the Siyue Hall, featuring Song-style architecture that is solemn and majestic. The couplets inscribed on the pillars read “Thirty years of fame are but dust and earth; Eight thousand li of journey are but clouds and moon,” written in graceful and elegant calligraphy. A seated statue of Yue Fei is placed in the hall, wearing a red tassel helmet, a purple python robe, golden armor visible on his arms, and military boots on his feet. His expression is heroic and solemn, as if he were deep in thought on the eve of a decisive battle, or filled with burning concern after inspecting the people’s plight—making him feel remarkably close to visitors. On both sides are standing statues of Yue Fei’s eight generals, all exquisitely lifelike. The rear hall is the Siyue Pavilion, where a statue-stele of Yue Fei stands. Poems by Li Gang and Han Shizhong are inlaid on the outer walls. Corridors encircle the two halls, inlaid with steles of ci poetry, poems, and stone carvings of Yue Fei’s handwritten “First Memorial on Dispatching Troops.”

According to the “History of the Song Dynasty”: “An imperial edict ordered Yue Fei to return and defend Tong and Tai. The decree stated that he could defend if possible, but if not, he should at least protect the people on the sandbanks and wait for an opportunity to strike back. Yue Fei considered that Tai had no defensible terrain, so he retreated to defend Chaixu, fought at Nanba Bridge, and decisively defeated the Jin army. He ferried the people across the sandbanks, with his elite cavalry of two hundred covering the rear, preventing the Jin troops from approaching.” “Tong” refers to Nantong; “Tai” refers to Taizhou; “sandbanks” and “on the sand” refer to Matuosha; the “people” were refugees from the Jianghuai region. These refugees are the ancestors of many current residents of Jingjiang.

As for folklore, the story is even more touching. It is said that Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty and Prime Minister Qin Hui, acting in cowardly collusion, sought peace with the Jin forces and viewed the loyal and patriotic Yue Fei as a thorn in their side. One day, they sent Yue Fei twelve urgent imperial edicts recalling him to the capital (Hangzhou). The people of the Central Plains were deeply reluctant to part with him, fearing that the Jin army would invade again and plunge them back into misery. They wished to follow Yue Fei when he left. Yue Fei, who loved the people as his own children, how could he bear to refuse? Thus, he took the refugees with him as he headed south. When they traveled thousands of miles to Matuosha by the Yangtze River, Yue Fei lay awake all night and rose to pace out of his tent, using the cold glow of the moon to survey the surroundings. He saw that this place was flanked by the river and sea, connecting Yue and encompassing Wu, truly a strategic location. Though overgrown with wild grass, it had mountains and water, suitable for growing grain and mulberry, clearly a pearl nestled in the embrace of the great river. Overjoyed, he did not even notice the morning dew soaking his beard and eyebrows.

The next day, Yue Fei gathered the people and said: “Do not follow me across the river to the south. Settle down and make a life here instead. Though it may look desolate now, it will surely become a land of fish and rice in the future. I wish for this place to be free from floods for eight hundred years, free from drought for eight hundred years, and free from war for eight hundred years.” How could the people not heed the words of Marshal Yue? From then on, they settled here, established homes, and thrived. After Yue Fei left, the people, filled with deep gratitude, wished for his long life and thus built a shrine. This place later became a town, known as Shengci Hall or Shengci Town.

Although the legend does not entirely align with historical facts, it captures the spirit and essence of the truth. Whether based on history or legend, both show that Jingjiang shares an inseparable bond with Yue Fei. And for thousands of years, the repeated construction of the Yue Temple reflects our ancestors’ enduring gratitude for Yue Fei’s benevolence, flowing ceaselessly like the waters of the Yangtze River.

The current Yue Temple is the third reconstruction, all three times funded by Liu Guojun. The first reconstruction was in 1932, but unfortunately, it was destroyed by Japanese artillery fire in 1938. In 1962, Liu Guojun returned to his hometown to pay respects at the ruins of the Yue Temple and proposed rebuilding it, deciding to move the temple site from beside Siyue Bridge in the east of the town to its current location. However, the rebuilding faced great challenges. In the spring of 1978, in his twilight years, the elderly Liu Guojun told his children on his deathbed: “You must restore the Yue Temple in our hometown!” His children, Liu Handong and Liu Biru, followed his will and donated funds in 1985 for the third reconstruction of the Yue Temple.

Shengci Town: Shengci Town is located in the northwest of Jingjiang, about 11 kilometers from downtown Jingjiang. It borders Machang Town to the east, Dongxing Town to the south, Xinqiao Town to the west, and Taixing City to the north. The town covers an area of 70.2 square kilometers, governs 18 administrative villages, 2 communities, and 472 villager groups, with a total population of 48,800. In 2015, the town achieved a regional GDP of 3.829 billion yuan, public fiscal budget revenue of 60.4 million yuan, and per capita rural income of 17,893 yuan. It won its first annual award for economic and social development among towns in the city, marking a successful conclusion... More detailed information about Shengci Town++