Temple of Meng Gong

Temple of Meng Gong

The Temple of Meng Gong is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Temple of Meng Gong is located in Shanlian Town, Huzhou City, about 28 kilometers from Huzhou. Shanlian is known as the "Capital of Chinese Brushes" and the birthplace of the Hu Brush. The temple is dedicated to Meng Tian, the ancestor of brush-making. Meng Tian was a famous general of the Qin Dynasty and is historically recorded as the originator of brush-making in China. Shanlian has a long history of Hu Brush production, which flourished as early as the Southern Dynasties. The construction of the Temple of Meng Gong to honor Meng Tian, according to written records, dates back no later than the Yuan Dynasty.

During the Republic of China period, the Temple of Meng Gong was rebuilt. It was destroyed during the Anti-Japanese War in 1943. In 1959, the temple suffered further damage due to the construction of factory buildings for the Shanlian Hu Brush Factory. The temple was rebuilt in 1992 and completed in April 1995. The current Temple of Meng Gong covers an area of 4,000 square meters.

The newly built Temple of Meng Gong features a traditional Chinese architectural style with a main hall topped by a hip-and-gable roof and upturned eaves. The hall is surrounded by corridors, all equipped with stone railings. Ten corridors are situated in front of the main hall, displaying a variety of Hu Brushes. The corridor pillars and interior of the hall are adorned with plaques and couplets inscribed by famous calligraphers. At the center stands a large painted sculpture of Meng Tian, his wife, and their son. Meng Tian is depicted wearing a marshal’s helmet, with his battle robe draped diagonally and armor visible on his right side. In front of the statue is a redwood screen base engraved with the full text of Wang Xizhi’s “Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion,” a masterpiece by the great Jin Dynasty calligrapher. The back wall features an oil painting by a Huzhou artist titled “Meng Tian Making Brushes,” depicting the folk story of Meng Tian settling in Xibao Village, Shanlian, rescuing a drowning woman named Bu Xianglian, marrying her, and working with local village girls to develop the Hu Brush and establish a brush-making workshop. The Hu Brush, along with Hui Ink, Duan Inkstone, and Xuan Paper, is known as one of the “Four Treasures of the Study.”

Meng Tian (circa ?–210 BCE) was a native of the State of Qi. He was a famous general of the Qin Dynasty, known for his resolute loyalty and strict military discipline. He once led a major force to resist the Xiongnu, earning a formidable reputation along the borders, and personally supervised the construction of the Great Wall, gaining widespread fame. He fulfilled his duties diligently and made significant contributions to the consolidation of the Qin Dynasty.

Meng Tian came from a military family. His grandfather, Meng Ao, defected from the State of Qi to King Zhaoxiang of Qin in the late Warring States period and became a Qin general starting in 249 BCE under King Zhuangxiang of Qin, achieving numerous military accomplishments. His father, Meng Wu, was a subordinate general of the Qin Dynasty who led troops in battles against the Chu Kingdom and captured the King of Chu. Influenced by his family from a young age, Meng Tian developed a strong passion for military strategy and martial arts... More details about Meng Tian ++