Dequan Temple

Dequan Temple

Dequan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Dequan Temple is located ten li west of Xindian Town, Yucheng, and is one of the ancient temples. Commonly known as Cao Temple, it is also called Da Temple. The exact time of its initial construction is unknown, but by the 13th year of the Daoguang reign, it had become a ruin due to years of neglect. The villages surrounding the temple are named according to their relative positions to it, such as Siqu Liu (Liu in front of the temple), Sixi Li (Li to the west of the temple), and Shihou Li (Li behind the temple). After its reconstruction and revival, Dequan Temple became grand and magnificent in scale: the main hall had four bays, housing protective deities such as Sakyamuni, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra, all gilded and dazzling, standing over six feet tall; the Eighteen Arhats were resplendent in gold, shining brilliantly; on the east and west sides of the main hall, there were two meditation rooms each, along with five attached kitchen rooms; in front of the main hall stood a Heavenly King Hall, housing statues of the Four Heavenly Kings; on the east and west sides of the Heavenly King Hall were four bays of corridors, enshrining the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva; there was also a Garan Shrine, complete with various deities in diverse forms; at the entrance gate, there were side rooms where monks lived and where various ritual instruments were stored; within the gate’s inner left and right open spaces stood two large dragon-carved stone steles; in front of the main hall, to the left stood towering green cypresses and to the right ancient locust trees, planted symmetrically in pairs; in front of the temple was a broad, flat square used by worshippers and during temple fairs; the square was surrounded by lush trees, flowers, and fragrant herbs, and there were also several acres of temple-owned farmland, covering a total area of over 250 mu. Inside the gate was also an eastern courtyard, which housed a private school where students from nearby villages came to study poetry and literature. Monk Fadew, a Buddhist master, established a hermitage here, took on the role of abbot, and thus the temple became renowned.

In front of Dequan Temple, the February Temple Fair has been held annually. The founder of the February Temple Fair was Dong Hai, a local gentry and wealthy man from Dongzhuang Village in Xindian Town. During the 13th year of the Daoguang reign when funds were raised to rebuild the temple, he generously contributed, earning great fame. The February Temple Fair typically lasted 5–7 days. The proceeds from the fair were partly used for fair expenses, partly distributed as dividends to members, and the remainder was donated in full to Dequan Temple for charitable purposes. The main activities of the February Temple Fair were commercial trading, followed by entertainment. Entertainment mainly included opera performances and watching plays. In addition to opera troupes, there were various sideshows, such as knife climbing, ox hip bone performances, Lèizǐ opera acts, animal training, monkey shows, storytelling, and peep shows—offering a wide variety of attractions. The temple fair helped spread the fame of Dequan Temple, and as a result, the temple’s incense offerings flourished. However, in 1937, the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan reduced Dequan Temple to ruins once again. Later, only a stele base remained.

Source: Yucheng City Local Chronicles Compilation Committee