Temple and Tomb of Taibo

Temple and Tomb of Taibo

The Temple of Taibo and Tomb are designated as Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

Temple of Taibo in Meicun, Wuxi

The Temple of Taibo in Meicun, Wuxi is situated by the Bodu River in Meicun Township, Wuxi County, approximately 15 kilometers southeast of Wuxi City. Also known as the Taibo Ancestral Hall, Zhide Ancestral Hall, and the Temple of the Abdicating King. The ancient name of Meicun was Meili, which was the capital of the State of Gouwu established by Taibo, the eldest son of King Tai of Zhou from the late Shang Dynasty, when he ceded the throne and fled from Qishan in Shaanxi to this region in Wu. In the second year of the Yongxing era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (154), Emperor Huan ordered the establishment of an ancestral hall here. It underwent renovations and expansions over successive dynasties, and by the early Qing Dynasty had developed into a grand architectural complex covering over 80 acres, noted for its exquisite craftsmanship and splendor.

In the tenth year of the Xianfeng era (1860), Qing troops burned down structures within the Temple of Taibo such as the Aizhi Hall, Dashu Hall, Dezhi Hall, Daxia Hall, and Cijian Hall while suppressing the Taiping Rebellion in Wuxi. In 1937, the temple suffered further damage from Japanese forces, leaving only the main hall, side halls, Jimen (Rank Spear Gate), the first mountain gate, and dozens of ancient cypress trees within the temple grounds.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Sixth Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level