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Temple of the God of Literature

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The Temple of the God of Literature is one of the Five Altars and Eight Temples in Beijing. Located in Mao’er Hutong in the northern part of the city, it is also known as the Wenchang Zitong Temple. The Wenchang Palace, also called the Wenchang Temple, venerates the God of Literature (Wenchang Dijun), who is a combined deity of the Wenchang Star and the Zitong Emperor. Both the Wenchang Star and the Zitong Emperor are revered in Taoism as gods who preside over scholarly honor and official rank. In the third year of the Yanxing era during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Yuan (1316), the two were merged into the “Divine Lord Wenchang Who Assists the Origin and Spreads Civilization, Governs Literary Fortune, and Embodies Great Benevolence,” hence referred to as the God of Literature. The Wenchang Temple was built during the Zhizheng era of Emperor Shundi of Yuan, and underwent major renovations in the sixth year of the Jiaqing era during the Qing Dynasty (1801). The temple complex includes a mountain gate, bell and drum towers, the Kuiguang Hall, the Guixiang Hall (dedicated to the God of Literature), an imperial stele pavilion, as well as the Guan Yu Hall, the God of Wealth Hall, and the Great Compassion Hall. In total, the temple consists of 89 halls, chambers, and buildings of various sizes. Two major sacrificial ceremonies are held each year in spring and autumn (the spring ceremony takes place on the third day of the second lunar month, believed to be the birthday of the God of Literature), with rituals and scale similar to those of the Guan Yu Temple. Originally, the temple was tended only by Taoist priests, but later it came under the leadership of Buddhist monks, specifically from the Huayan School (also known as the Xianshou School) of Buddhism. After the Xinhai Revolution, the temple ceased its ritual activities. The front section of the former temple site now houses the Mao’er Hutong Primary School.

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The Temple of the God of Literature is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Temple of the God of Literature is one of the Five Altars and Eight Temples in Beijing. Located in Mao’er Hutong in the northern part of the city, it is also known as the Wenchang Zitong Temple. The Wenchang Palace, also called the Wenchang Temple, venerates the God of Literature (Wenchang Dijun), who is a combined deity of the Wenchang Star and the Zitong Emperor. Both the Wenchang Star and the Zitong Emperor are revered in Taoism as gods who preside over scholarly honor and official rank. In the third year of the Yanxing era during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Yuan (1316), the two were merged into the “Divine Lord Wenchang Who Assists the Origin and Spreads Civilization, Governs Literary Fortune, and Embodies Great Benevolence,” hence referred to as the God of Literature. The Wenchang Temple was built during the Zhizheng era of Emperor Shundi of Yuan, and underwent major renovations in the sixth year of the Jiaqing era during the Qing Dynasty (1801). The temple complex includes a mountain gate, bell and drum towers, the Kuiguang Hall, the Guixiang Hall (dedicated to the God of Literature), an imperial stele pavilion; also present are the Guan Yu Hall, the God of Wealth Hall, and the Great Compassion Hall, totaling 89 halls, chambers, and buildings of various sizes throughout the temple. Two major sacrificial ceremonies are held each year in spring and autumn (the spring ceremony takes place on the third day of the second lunar month, traditionally considered the birthday of the God of Literature), with rituals and scale similar to those of the Guan Yu Temple. Originally, the temple was tended only by Taoist priests, but later it came under the leadership of Buddhist monks, specifically from the Huayan School (also known as the Xianshou School) of Buddhism. After the Xinhai Revolution, the temple ceased its ritual activities. The front section of the former temple site now houses the Mao’er Hutong Primary School.