King Han Temple and Zhu Jin Hall

King Han Temple and Zhu Jin Hall

King Han Temple and Zhu Jin Hall is a national AA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

King Han Temple, also known as the Temple of Duke Han Zhongxian or Wei Gong Shrine, is located on the north side of Southeast Ying Street in Anyang’s old city. The temple was built during the Song Dynasty and renovated in the second year of the Yuandade era (1298). The main hall was reconstructed in the third year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1664) under the supervision of magistrate Mao Jike. In the 27th year of the Guangxu reign (1901), when the Dowager Empress and Emperor returned to the capital, Emperor Dezong inscribed the temple gate with the phrase “Timely Aid to All,” while Empress Dowager Cixi inscribed “Vast Virtue and Broad Learning.” The hall features a single-eave, hanging-hip roof covered with green glazed tiles, is three bays wide (10.8 meters long, 9.6 meters deep, and 7 meters high), with 0.5-meter-thick gable walls. It has four carved corner stone pillars, each 3.15 meters tall, adorned with floral paintings. The hall is fronted by a moon terrace and houses statues of King Han and two attendants (a boy and a girl). The roof beams are of the grass-rafter style, and the bracket sets feature double downward-projecting arms with five-color decorations, accented with green-glazed tile borders and center pieces, giving an air of solemn elegance. There are also three-bay east and west wing rooms (each 8 meters long, 4 meters deep, and 5 meters high). The temple grounds preserve over 20 stone tablets, including the “Record of Zhu Jin Hall,” with one tablet inscribed with eight characters from Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty: “Regent of Two Reigns, Architect of Destiny.”

Zhu Jin Hall is located on Southeast Ying Street in the ancient city. It was a hall built behind the state government office by Han Qi, a Three-Dynasty Chancellor of the Song Dynasty, during his tenure as Prefect of Xiangzhou. Situated on Southeast Ying Street in the ancient city, it was constructed by Han Qi, the Three-Dynasty Chancellor of the Song Dynasty, during his time as Prefect of Xiangzhou. Inspired by the phrase from “The Book of Han · Biography of Xiang Yu”—“Returning home in wealth and honor in the dead of night is like wearing brocade in the dark”—he reversed its meaning and thus named it “Zhu Jin Hall” (Hall of Daytime Splendor). The original site was near Gaoge Temple, but in the 11th year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1498), Feng Zhong, Prefect of Zhangde, relocated it here. The Zhu Jin Hall and the Worship Hall are topped with green glazed tiles, accented and centered for an antique and elegant look. At the back of the hall hangs a large wooden plaque with the golden characters “Zhu Jin Hall” on a black background. Behind the hall is the Jiji Tower; to the east is the Parrot-Rocking Pavilion, to the west the Fish-Viewing Pavilion, with a fish pond and Kang Le Garden in between; and at the rear lies the Library Tower. This garden-style, elegantly serene architectural complex was once one of the Four Great Academies in China. The main hall, worship hall, Jiji Hall, Fish-Viewing Pavilion, and Parrot-Rocking Pavilion of Zhu Jin Hall were burned down in 1968, and a pair of stone lions outside the main gate were destroyed. What remains today includes the main gate, second gate, east and west wing rooms, library tower, three ancient locust trees, and the academy lecture hall.

Address: Wenhua Road, Wenfeng District, Anyang City

Type: Temple

Rating: AA

Ticket Information:

Door Price: 20.0 RMB

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level