Gaoxu Grandmother Temple

Gaoxu Grandmother Temple in Ci County, Handan City, Hebei Province, is situated in Wujie Village, Gaoxu, approximately seven kilometers northeast of Ci County Town. Temple fairs are held at Gaoxu Grandmother Temple on the 5th day of the 3rd lunar month, the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, the 9th day of the 9th lunar month, the 1st day of the 11th lunar month, and the 11th day of the 12th lunar month.Commonly known as "Pingdingshan," it was the official Grandmother Temple of the former Cizhou Prefecture, jointly built by Ci County, Linzhang, and Cheng'an. The temple covers an area of over ten acres, with three courtyards aligned behind the mountain gate. The central courtyard houses the Jade Emperor Hall and the Five Saints Pavilion, the eastern courtyard contains the Three Sovereigns Hall and the Buddha Hall, and the western courtyard includes the Bixia Palace and the 0 Hall, among others. With a long history, strong folk beliefs, and grand architectural scale, it is a renowned Taoist sacred site in Ci County.

For thousands of years, this area has been known for its simple folkways, beautiful waters, fertile land, abundant resources, and outstanding people. The ancient Fuyang River flows from the southwest, meandering through Gaoxu Village, nurturing the hardworking people on both banks. Known since ancient times as a "fertile land," Gaoxu Village has a long history, profound cultural heritage, rapid population growth, and has become the largest natural village within the county. The Grandmother Temple, located in Wujie Village (now Gaoxu Village is divided into six administrative villages), has a long history, has experienced rise and decline, and bears witness to the vicissitudes of Gaoxu.

        Gaoxu Grandmother Temple is situated in Gaoxu Town, at the junction of Ci County, Linzhang, and Cheng'an. Its founding dates back to ancient times, with records indicating it was jointly built by the three counties. The temple covers an area of over ten acres, with three courtyards aligned behind the mountain gate. The central courtyard houses the Jade Emperor Hall and the Five Saints Pavilion, the eastern courtyard contains the Three Sovereigns Hall and the Buddha Hall, and the western courtyard includes the Bixia Palace and the Old Mother Hall, among others. With a long history, strong folk beliefs, and grand architectural scale, it is a famous Taoist sacred site in Ci County.

        The rise of Gaoxu Grandmother Temple dates back to the Song and Yuan dynasties, when the Tai Mountain Grandmother Temple was initially built next to the Wenshu Temple in Gaoxu. Over generations, it gradually flourished. Meanwhile, during the Northern Qi Dynasty, Gao Huan of Pian County hunted near Wenshu Temple in Feixiang, and his arrow landed in Gaoxu, leading to the establishment of the Wenshu Temple in Gaoxu. Additionally, the burial site of Emperor Xiaojing of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, known as Tianzi Tomb (commonly called Pingdingshan), became associated with the beautiful legend of the Golden Summit Grandfather and the Tai Mountain Grandmother outwitting each other, which has been passed down to this day.

        The Ming and Qing dynasties were also the peak period of Taoism in the Cizhou region. Numerous shrines and temples dedicated to Bixia Yuanjun were built within the county, and the large-scale Gaoxu Grandmother Temple was one of them. Legends of Gaoxu Grandmother protecting the people and punishing evil while promoting good, along with bizarre incidents of her spirit descending to heal the sick, greatly enhanced the temple's fame, making it widely renowned. Through generations of renovations and expansions, deities such as the Buddha and the Jade Emperor were also enshrined here, allowing Buddhism and Taoism to coexist peacefully on the same mountain and in the same temple. To this day, the temple preserves several massive stone steles from the Ming and Qing periods, witnessing its glorious history. The "Tai Mountain Palace Stele Inscription" from the 5th year of the Yongzheng reign (1727) records that the Tai Mountain Bixia Yuanjun Shrine, having endured for many years, suffered damage from wind and rain. Residents and local leaders collaborated to initiate renovations starting in the 57th year of the Kangxi reign (1718). After more than a decade of dedicated effort, the shrine was restored to resemble a majestic palace by the sea, echoing the grandeur of imperial carriages. The temple flourished with the people, its spiritual influence grew, and it gained even more reverence. Even during the Republic of China era, it remained splendid, with flourishing incense offerings and a large devotee following.

        After the founding of the People's Republic of China, during the campaign against superstition, Gaoxu Grandmother Temple suffered unprecedented destruction. At the time, Gaoxu Village was the site of a people's commune, and the temple was converted into the Gaoxu Cotton Station. The grand halls were all demolished, the exquisite statues were destroyed, and the stone steles erected over generations were taken away to build dams and dikes. In the following decades, mysterious and eerie events continued to occur at the cotton station, and nearby devotees secretly continued their worship. After the reform and opening-up, with the implementation of religious policies, worshippers flocked to the site during festivals and temple fairs. Incense smoke and burning paper offerings filled the air around the cotton station, clashing with its strict no-fire policy. Under strong pressure from devotees, the Gaoxu Cotton Station was eventually forced to relocate. Subsequently, with generous support from donors and the local community, the mountain gate and main halls were restored to their original appearance. After years of meticulous renovation, the current Gaoxu Grandmother Temple is grand in scale and majestic in presence. The lotus garden in front of the temple features rippling water and fragrant blooms, while the temple halls are adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, all newly refurbished. During worship days, temple fairs, and the New Year, the site is enveloped in incense smoke, with thriving worship activities and crowds of pilgrims. Especially during the temple fairs on the 5th day of the 3rd lunar month and the 9th day of the 9th lunar month, the Lotus Culture Square hosts theatrical performances to pray for favorable weather and national prosperity. Pilgrims from afar arrive early, staying for over ten days, coming and going day and night, with bustling traffic and crowds. Merchants line the streets, devotees gather in large numbers, and trade flourishes, creating a scene of great prosperity.

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        Worshipping the Tai Mountain Grandmother brings blessings, dispels disasters, and heals illnesses for all beings. Prayers to the various deities seek the punishment of evil and the protection of good, ensuring the safety of the people. To preserve historical and cultural heritage and protect ancient Taoist relics, Gaoxu Grandmother Temple has been listed as a key cultural relic protection unit in Handan City, becoming the most famous Taoist activity site in the surrounding hundreds of miles.

[Appendix: The Legendary Tale of Gaoxu Grandmother Temple]

        Legend has it that long, long ago, there was a deity named Golden Summit Real Man, revered as "Golden Summit Grandfather." One day, while traveling on a cloud, he passed through Gaoxu and found the area spiritually rich, with fertile land, flat terrain, and abundant water sources. He decided to establish his celestial abode here. Taking out his precious bow and golden arrow, he shot toward the ground, causing a radiant golden light to shine across a ten-mile radius—a sign that the land belonged to Golden Summit Grandfather, who planned to build his celestial palace here when time permitted. After Golden Summit Grandfather left, Gaoxu Grandmother also arrived and took a liking to this auspicious land. However, she noticed the golden arrow left by Golden Summit Grandfather and realized the land was already claimed. But the land was too tempting, so Gaoxu Grandmother devised a plan. She approached the golden arrow, used her divine power to pull it out, buried her embroidered shoe in the ground, and reinserted the arrow on top of the shoe, leaving no trace before flying away. Later, when Golden Summit Grandfather and Gaoxu Grandmother met again, Golden Summit Grandfather claimed he had first chosen the auspicious land. Gaoxu Grandmother argued that she had claimed it first and asked him to prove otherwise. Golden Summit Grandfather said he had left his golden arrow there. Gaoxu Grandmother said she had left her embroidered shoe. When Golden Summit Grandfather pulled out his arrow, he found an embroidered shoe attached to it. Gaoxu Grandmother said, "When you shot the arrow, my embroidered shoe was already buried here. So who really claimed it first?" Realizing he had been outwitted, Golden Summit Grandfather could not produce further evidence. Moreover, he admired Gaoxu Grandmother and said, "A real man does not quarrel with a woman" (it is said this phrase originated here, though there is no historical evidence), then flew away to the west. Gaoxu Grandmother built Gaoxu Grandmother Temple here, and from then on, the land enjoyed favorable weather and a peaceful, happy life for ten miles around.

        Golden Summit Grandfather later went to Lufeng Mountain in western Ci County and built the Golden Summit Temple, known as the Little Golden Summit of Ci County. Missing Gaoxu Grandmother and worried about her well-being, he designed the temple gate to face east (unlike the traditional southern orientation of temples in China), so he could gaze toward Gaoxu Grandmother every day. This is the widely circulated origin story of Gaoxu Grandmother Temple.