Temple of Emperor Gaozu of Han

Temple of Emperor Gaozu of Han

The Temple of Emperor Gaozu of Han is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Temple of Emperor Gaozu of Han is located within the compound of the current Fengcheng Hotel. It was originally built in Zhongyangfang and has been relocated several times before being situated to the left of the Confucius Temple. The Zhongyangfang Temple of Emperor Gaozu was located at the northeast corner of the former county seat and was constructed by Liu Zhiyuan during the Five Dynasties period. By the Tang Dynasty, it had already begun to deteriorate and was rarely visited. When Xu Kuang, a Doctor of the Imperial College during the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, passed by the temple, he wrote a poem: “The soul and spirit are surely startled by the galloping iron steeds; this solitary city’s remaining temple has witnessed the ages. Under the bright moon, the swords and jade pendants of the Three Heroes appear, but as time passes, the six brilliant strategies of the ruler and his ministers fade into obscurity. Foxes and rabbits bow on the steps as if to break the siege, while money spent on the maiden’s shrine is wasted in vain. The roaring carriages and horses rush away along the suburban roads — truly, mourning the past here could bring one to tears.

” During the Xuanhe era of the Song Dynasty (1119–1125 AD), the temple was rebuilt by Han Hou, then magistrate of Feng County, and Wang Zhicai, the clerk. By the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the temple had fallen into disrepair, with walls collapsed. In the early Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang decreed that local officials offer seasonal sacrifices. In the first year of the Ming Xuande era (1426 AD), Magistrate Que Ying carried out renovations. In the eighth year of the Zhengtong era (1443 AD), Clerk Liu Mian oversaw another round of repairs. From the twelfth to the thirteenth year of the Hongzhi era (1499–1500 AD), Magistrate Yu Rang, Deputy Magistrate Song Pu, Clerk Zha Jun, Instructor Chen Rang, Teaching Assistant Wu Zhuo, and Instructor Zheng Fa all contributed to further restorations. The main hall of the Temple of Emperor Gaozu had three rooms, with six side rooms on the east and west, a front gate building consisting of three rooms, and high surrounding walls.

In the fifth year of the Jiajing era (1526 AD), when Feng County’s seat was submerged by the Yellow River, the county government was moved to the southern foot of Mount Hua, and the Temple of Emperor Gaozu was relocated to the southern foot of Mount Lan. In the thirty-first year of the Jiajing era (1552 AD), the county seat was moved back to its original location, and the temple was rebuilt outside and to the east of the northern city gate. In the thirty-ninth year of the Jiajing era (1560 AD), County Magistrate Hu [character unclear] further renovated it. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, the temple had again fallen into neglect. In the twelfth year of the Chongzhen era, Sh史文奎, a successful candidate in the imperial examination from Shuntian Prefecture, wrote after passing the temple: “The majestic presence of Emperor Han still resides here, amid the desolate wilderness where wild smoke drifts. In those days, laws were established to relieve the people’s burdens — it wasn’t only in founding an empire that his insight shone. Visitors come in succession to mourn among the wild brambles. In a flash, it’s hard to recognize this overgrown shrine. The empty hall’s imperial robes and crown have been worn away by moss, while birdsong and murmurs only add to the sorrow.” In the nineteenth year of the Qing Kangxi era (1680 AD), Magistrate Liu Yulin relocated the temple to the left of Tianjin Bridge inside the northern city gate and allocated 15 mu of land for its maintenance. In the forty-seventh year of Kangxi, County Magistrate Wang Chuju oversaw major repairs, adorning the central imperial statue with gold and placing the Four Supporters and Eighteen Lords on either side. In the fourth year of the Yongzheng era (1726 AD), County Magistrate Shao Zhongquan carried out further construction. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Temple of Emperor Gaozu was alternately used as a private school and military barracks. During the Republican era, it served at times as a school and at other times as military quarters. In the 1950s, the temple was demolished and incorporated into an expansion of the county government guesthouse.