Zhonglun Zhenwu Temple

Zhonglun Zhenwu Temple

Zhonglun Zhenwu Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Zhonglun Zhenwu Temple is located in Zhonglun Village, Dongping Town, Dongtou County, just 1 kilometer from Beiao Town, the county seat. It was first built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1736–1795). The wooden structure measures 17.6 meters in width and 25.5 meters in depth. The mountain gate has five bays and is a two-story building with a flush gable roof. The stage is built right next to the mountain gate, featuring a hip-and-gable roof, and is separated by an atrium, facing the rear hall, with corridor buildings on both sides. The corridor buildings are equipped with railings and balustrades. The rear hall has three bays and a flush gable roof, and houses the shrine.

The full title of the Zhenwu Emperor is “Zhen Tian Zhen Wu Ling Ying You Sheng Di Jun,” who is the supreme deity of the north in Taoism, the same divine figure as the Zhenwu Emperor of Mount Wudang. He originates from one of the Four Symbols, “Xuanwu” (the turtle). When constructing the Liquean Temple during the Song Dynasty, a turtle and a snake were found, and the deity was sculpted as stepping on the turtle and snake, clad in black armor and wielding a sword. Emperor Zhenzong changed “Xuanwu” to “Zhenwu” to avoid the naming taboo of his ancestor Zhao Xuanlang. In the early Ming Dynasty, when Prince Yan Zhu Di marched southward, the two armies faced off, and the southern troops saw the “Zhenwu” banner in the sky. Later, Zhu Di ascended the throne and further elevated the worship rituals. In 1991, it was listed as part of the third batch of cultural relics protection units in Dongtou County.