Temple of the Silkworm Deity

Temple of the Silkworm Deity

The Temple of the Silkworm Deity is a national AA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

Era: Qing Dynasty

Address: Located at the intersection of Wulong Road, Shengze Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

In ancient times, the Silkworm Deity held an important status. The Han Chinese laboring people, in order to show reverence to the Silkworm Deity and express the silkworm farmers’ hopes for a bountiful harvest in the coming year, would hold sacrificial ceremonies for the deity, from which many customs evolved.

The Temple of the Silkworm Deity is a classical Han-style temple building. Its front gate tower features upturned eaves and bracket sets, exuding grandeur. Beside it is an octagonal plain brick wall, simple and elegant. Further ahead, past the gate, lies a small square that was originally a gathering place for worshippers. The central plaque above the three arched gates bears the name of the temple, while the words “Weaving Clouds” and “Embroidering Brocade” are inscribed on the upper parts of the two sides, reflecting the prosperity of the silk industry in Shengze at the time.

Not far past the gate tower is the opera house, which connects to the side halls on both sides. The stage faces north, and the stone-paved square below extends all the way to the main hall, offering a spacious area that can accommodate ten thousand people.

The main hall is majestic and spacious, enshrining three statues: the Yellow Emperor (Xuanyuan), the Divine Farmer (Shennong), and the Silkworm Goddess (Leizu). As everyone knows, Xuanyuan is the Yellow Emperor, Shennong is the ancestor of Chinese agriculture, also known as the Yan Emperor—“Yan Huang Zisun,” or the descendants of Yan and Huang, refers to their lineage. As for the ancient woman Leizu, she was the wife of the Yellow Emperor and the one who taught people how to raise silkworms and reel silk. She can be regarded as the founding figure of China’s silk industry. This is most clearly expressed in the plaques in the hall inscribed with “Legacy of the Silkworm Deity” and “Clothing for All People.” It was only natural that villagers would come to the temple to pray for blessings before or during the silkworm-raising season, hoping for a bountiful cocoon harvest. Therefore, the Temple of the Silkworm Deity was once bustling with incense and worshippers.

The Temple of the Silkworm Deity is a national AA-level scenic spot. In May 2013, it was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. It was renovated in 1999 and opened to the public that same year. The temple was originally built in the 20th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1840), jointly constructed by Shengze’s silk merchants, and has a history of over 170 years. China has a long-standing tradition of worshipping ancestors and patron deities of various trades. The Temple of the Silkworm Deity is a public shrine dedicated to the patron deity of the silk industry. It also served as the office for the Shengze Silk Guild and the local agricultural association.

Shengze Town: Shengze Town is located at the southernmost tip of Jiangsu Province, within the Taihu Lake basin. Here, the land is fertile and flat, dotted with lakes, and enjoys a warm climate with abundant rainfall—ideal for growing rice, wheat, mulberry trees, and raising silkworms. It is known as a famous land of fish and rice as well as a capital of silk. The town covers an area of 118 square kilometers, including 22 square kilometers of built-up urban area. It has a permanent population of 180,000, including 107,000 registered residents and approximately 70,000 migrant workers and businesspeople. Shengze Town is an economic hub of Wujiang City, particularly prominent in industrial output.

Shengze Town is an economic hub of Wujiang City, particularly prominent in industrial output... Detailed information about Shengze Town++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units

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