Ma’s Palace

Ma’s Palace

Ma’s Palace, also known as the Lake and Mountain Shrine, is located at the east end of Rulong Bridge, facing west. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty, it was renovated in the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1872), when two side halls were added to expand it to its current size. The layout is divided into a front hall and a rear hall. The front hall serves as a stage, while the rear hall enshrines seven deities including Lady Ma and the Temple Guardian King.

Nestled against a mountain and beside water, Ma’s Palace is shaded by ancient trees, with upturned eaves and sweeping roof corners. The main façade consists of three bays, with a central bay flanked by two side bays. The roof features a triple-eave hip-and-gable design, with the triple eaves over the central three bays adorned with carved wooden lattice windows. Upon entering through the main gate, you’ll find the stage, with one wing room on each side serving as lodging for performers. The pillars, beams, and corners are exquisitely carved with openwork craftsmanship. The ceiling of the stage is painted with colorful murals of dragons, phoenixes, and the Eight Immortals, while the white plaster walls are adorned with vivid ancient frescoes. The entire structure is resplendent and magnificent. According to village elders, in their youth they witnessed a renowned local carver, Wu Chenqi, repairing a Buddha palanquin when he discovered that its pillars were not made of wood but rather of uneven bamboo sticks bound together with hemp ropes and coated with paint. The bamboo sticks bore inscriptions such as “Donated by Jin ××: × taels and × qian of silver,” which aligns with the record in the "Juxi Annals" that “the Jin family was quite numerous.” Unfortunately, these were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Originally, there was also a teahouse in front of the stage, serving as a viewing area for men during performances (as gender segregation was practiced in those times), while women and children watched from the lower level, reflecting a clear social hierarchy. The rear main hall houses solemn statues of deities, adorned with red couplets and fabrics, enveloped in incense smoke. In the past, the annual “Deity Welcoming Festival” was held here, drawing crowds from neighboring villages who came in groups to burn incense. Theater troupes were also invited to perform for half a month during the “Theater Festival,” creating an exceptionally lively atmosphere. Though the temple fair carried strong elements of superstition, it was essentially a community event rich in meaning—skillfully combining material and cultural exchanges, folk art, and public tourism. It attracted people from all directions and became a deeply rooted local custom. In the late 1970s, part of Ma’s Palace was demolished to make way for the construction of the Gangxi Highway, so the currently preserved structure is no longer whole. Nevertheless, the temple fair is still held annually, with ceremonial attire such as phoenix coronets and flowing robes used to dress the statues, offerings arranged for worship—though there are no longer any theatrical performances.