General Chen’s Ancestral Temple

General Chen’s Ancestral Temple

General Chen’s Ancestral Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

General Chen’s Ancestral Temple. This temple was built in honor of Chen Yuanguang, the “Sacred King Who Opened Zhangzhou,” a Tang Dynasty hero who pacified the “Xiao Rebellion,” stabilized the southeastern frontier, and founded Zhangzhou. Chen Yuanguang (657–711), courtesy name Tingju, art name Longhu, was the son of Chen Zheng. Gifted and studious from childhood, he loved horseback riding and archery. In the second year of the Zongzhang era (669), at just 13 years old, he ranked first in the Guangzhou rural examination. The following year, he followed his uncles Chen Min and Chen Fu to Fujian. In the second year of the Yiguan era (677), Chen Zheng passed away, and Chen Yuanguang inherited the military post of Left Langjiang. In the second year of the Yonglong era (683), he was promoted to the rank of Zhengyi Doctor and served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Lingnan Expeditionary Force. After over a hundred battles of varying scale, the rebellion of the “Manliao” tribes was quelled. For the next 20 years, there were no further conflicts. Chen Yuanguang led troops in settling and cultivating the land, while promoting agriculture and cultural development. In the second year of the Chuigong era (686), he submitted the “Petition to Establish Prefectures and Counties,” recommending the setup of prefectures and counties in Quanzhou and Chaoshan to ensure long-term stability. Empress Wu Zetian approved the proposal, appointed Yuanguang as acting prefect, established Zhangzhou, and also set up Zhangpu and Hua’en counties. In governing Zhangzhou, Chen Yuanguang initiated civil service examinations to select talent and appointed virtuous officials; he resettled refugees, reclaimed wasteland through controlled burning, and developed water conservancy projects; he established schools and academies. He also divided the prefecture into 36 protected zones, set up military posts along its borders, and pacified the mountain Yue people to ensure peace in southern Fujian. He advocated interethnic marriage alliances and even took a mountain Yue woman as his wife. Those who surrendered were assigned designated areas to live in and govern themselves, known as “Tanghua Li,” also called “Jiulong Li.” These measures led to rapid economic and cultural development in southern Fujian. In the second year of the Jingyuan era under Emperor Ruizong (711), Chen Yuanguang, riding on a light cavalry mission, was fatally wounded in the waist by the enemy. The people mourned him deeply and enshrined his image in Dasanshi Temple by the Suian Stream. In the first year of the Xiantian era under Emperor Xuanzong (712), he was posthumously honored with an official title and given the posthumous name Zhongyi (Loyal and Resolute). During the Song Dynasty’s Emperor Xiaozong’s reign, he was further conferred the title Lingzhu Yingsui Zhaolie Guangji Wang (Spirit-Possessing, Responsive, Illustrious, Extensively Benevolent King), and officials were ordered to conduct seasonal sacrifices in his honor. Places like Zhangzhou revered him for his merits and honored him as the “Sacred King Who Opened Zhangzhou,” building temples in his worship. Chen Yuanguang authored literary collections such as Longhu Ji (Dragon Lake Collection), Yuqian Ji (Jade Seal Collection), and Bingfa Shejue (Military Tactics and Archery Secrets). General Chen’s Ancestral Temple was built during the Tang Dynasty’s Tianbao era by Chen Feng, Chen Yuanguang’s grandson. It covers an area of 5,081 square meters. Originally nearly 100 rooms, 31 rooms remain today, with a construction area of 740 square meters. The ancestral temple faces Fuguang Peak, with a pool of clear water in front. The overall layout is that of a traditional quadrangle courtyard, consisting of a front yard, rear hall, side rooms, auxiliary halls with corridors, all connected by stone steps and pillars, with stone lions and elephants standing as supports. The lions and elephants bear bas-relief carvings, and the bases of the stone pillars are square, engraved with human figures and famous flowers. The foundation stones and pillars are seamlessly integrated. The main hall features a “Heaven-Connecting, Bell-Swaying, Double-Monkey” large beam structure, with beams fifteen Chinese feet long, each front and rear spanned by overhanging beams three feet in length, supported by sixteen stone pillars each fourteen feet high, resting on carved column bases. The surrounding walls are made of blue bricks, and the stone steps are elevated above the outdoor ground level. The eaves are fourteen feet high, with wooden lattice floral patterns, thin wooden boards covering the interior, topped with blue tiles, inlaid with exquisitely crafted Ruyi cloud-patterned tile ends. The east and west side rooms of the main hall, as well as the auxiliary halls, all use bracket beams, square stone columns resting on exquisitely carved column bases. The doors and windows are adorned with red-painted wooden lattice designs. Blue bricks and gray tiles form the roof, topped with double-tortoise-patterned panels along the ridgeline, protecting the front and rear roof surfaces. At the center of the hall’s facade sits a statue of General Chen Yuanguang, dignified and imposing in the manner of a great commander, inscribed with the title “Sacred King Who Opened Zhangzhou.” Above the main hall are plaques inscribed with “Awesomely Dominating Fujian and Guangdong” and “Purifying the Southeast,” while the couplet reads: “For decades after opening Zhangzhou, no alarms of war were heard, making it a land of joy; for a thousand years since founding Zhangzhou, incense offerings never ceased in worship of the general.” The entire structure exhibits the majesty and solemnity reminiscent of a military tent. In front of the ancestral temple lies a crescent-shaped pond spanning 1,566 square meters, with a botanical garden of 1,150 square meters on the right.

Chen Yuanguang (657–711), from Gushi in Guangzhou, according to the 1573 (Wanli Year of the Goat) “Zhangzhou Prefecture Records”: “Chen Yuanguang, courtesy name Tingju, art name Longhu. His ancestors were from Hedong, later settling in Gushi, Guangzhou, thus becoming a native of Gushi. He was born on the sixteenth day of the second month in the second year of the Xianqing era (657).” He was the first prefect of Zhangzhou. He is one of the major folk deities in the Fujian-Taiwan region, revered as the Sacred King Who Opened Zhangzhou.

He is one of the major folk deities in the Fujian-Taiwan region, revered as the Sacred King Who Opened Zhangzhou. General Chen Yuanguang, before reaching adulthood, followed his father in leading people southward, and remained stationed there until his death in service... More details on General Chen Yuanguang ++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Henan Province