Dawang Temple in Huaxian County

Dawang Temple in Huaxian County

Dawang Temple in Huaxian County is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural heritage site protected by Henan Province.

Dawang Temple in Huaxian County is an ancient Ming Dynasty structure and an important historical relic along the Huaxian section of the Grand Canal. According to records, the temple was jointly funded in the 18th year of the Wanli era (1590) by eight major local businesses involved in salt and silk trades, and was originally named "Shifang Yuan" (Ten Directions Courtyard). Within Shifang Yuan, there were over thirty temples of various sizes. Most were gradually demolished after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, leaving only the main hall of the Ming Dynasty Dawang Temple. This hall features a "one-bay-one-pitch" connected roof structure, faces west with a view over the Wei River, and is dedicated to deities associated with water. The main hall enshrines five "Kings" — Xie, Huang, Zhang, Li, and Zhu — who were five historical figures in China known for their contributions to water management: Xie Xu of the Southern Song Dynasty, Huang Shoucai and Zhang Juzheng of the Ming Dynasty, Li Bing of the Warring States period, and Zhu Zhixi of the Qing Dynasty. The temple reflects the earnest wishes of the local merchants in ancient times for peace along the Wei River and smooth waterborne trade.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected by Henan Province