Cicheng Qingdaoguan

Cicheng Qingdaoguan

Cicheng Qingdaoguan has a long history and is one of the most renowned Taoist temples in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. According to county records, Qingdaoguan was first built in the eighth year of the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty (749) but was later abandoned. In the thirtieth year of the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1160), it was rebuilt by the Taoist priest Ye Jingxu. At that time, the Dongyue Xinggong was constructed on the right side of the temple, and the official Lou Yue was invited to inscribe the plaque. The temple was then named "Lie Xian You Guan." In the twenty-fourth year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1391), the Taoist priest Wang Zhijing merged the nearby "Zhi Dao" and "Chong Shou" palaces into Qingdaoguan and renamed it. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Qingdaoguan remained well-preserved but was demolished during the Cultural Revolution.

As a key project in the protection and development of the ancient Cicheng County, Qingdaoguan was rebuilt between 2004 and 2007. All construction materials used were traditional — including timber, stone, bricks, and tiles — and all craftsmanship followed traditional techniques. Based on extensive research into the original layout and architectural style of Qingdaoguan, structures such as the Mountain Gate, Ceremonial Gate, Leizu Hall, Dongyue Hall, Dongyue Retreat Hall, Theater Stage, Jade Emperor Hall, Three Pure Ones Hall, Guan Yu Hall, and Ten Kings Hall were restored. The construction quality and artistic achievement reached the highest standards of traditional material and technique restoration. The main deities enshrined in Qingdaoguan — such as Leizu, the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak, the Jade Emperor, the Four Sovereigns, and the Three Pure Ones — were all exquisitely carved from high-quality cypress wood, coated with clear lacquer and light colors, representing the highest level of wooden deity carving.

The reconstruction of Qingdaoguan went beyond simply restoring a traditional Taoist temple; it also aimed to explore and showcase the spiritual essence of traditional Chinese Taoist culture, striving to reflect the spirit of the times. The bronze statue of Laozi on Laojun Terrace is the representative work of Professor Wu Weishan, an internationally influential contemporary Chinese sculptor and the first president of the China Sculpture Institute. Using an abstract sculptural technique, it captures the profound and lofty aura of Laozi as a great thinker and philosopher of humanity. The surrounding earth landscape features the simplest and purest modern material — black steel pipes — arranged to create winding paths resembling a maze, with pure white pebbles on the ground. The interplay of black and white conveys the meanings of "The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao" and "The great Tao is elusive," while also echoing the "virtue of water" cherished by Laozi. The atmosphere is grand and the meaning profound. On Laojun Terrace, there are also clusters of black prayer sticks symbolizing a forest, representing the myriad things outside the body of the Tao. Visitors can tie prayer ribbons to these sticks, allowing their wishes to be elevated within the profound Taoist ambiance, creating an interactive experience between people and place.

Qingdaoguan has evolved from a traditional site for Taoist worship, rituals, and spiritual cultivation into a modern venue for promoting traditional Chinese culture.