Sanyi Temple

Sanyi Temple

Sanyi Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

Sanyi Temple was built in the 40th year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1701 AD) and is located on the north shore of Nanhai Lake in the southern part of Huangchuan County. The temple faces south and enshrines statues of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei—heroes of the “Oath of the Peach Garden”—in its main hall. The existing structures include the mountain gate (three bays, 10.8m long × 5m wide), the main hall (five bays, 18.6m long × 7.2m wide), the second hall (five bays, 18.6m long × 10.2m wide), the third hall (five bays, 18.6m long × 11.7m wide), as well as over eighty auxiliary rooms along the east and west sides, covering a total area of 4,556.52 m². This gives visitors a glimpse of the grand scale of this ancient architectural complex in its heyday. A pair of iron flagpoles in front of the main hall adds another magnificent highlight to Sanyi Temple.

The existing pair of complete iron flagpoles were cast in the 14th year of the Jiaqing reign (1809 AD). They are cylindrical, standing 21 meters tall and weighing 35,000 jin (approximately 17,500 kg), with a diameter of 28 cm. The flagpoles are exquisitely cast with intricate details, showcasing the brilliance of Qing Dynasty metalworking craftsmanship. At the top of each flagpole sits a pair of young phoenixes with wings spread as if ready to take flight, carrying fiery wheels on their backs—each wheel inscribed with the characters for “sun” and “moon” at its center. Below the phoenix wings are a pair of hollow fire wheels, followed by three square caisson plates inscribed with Chinese characters. Each corner of the plates features an S-shaped hook from which hang four wind bells. Between the second and third square plates is a cast-iron dragon, and below the third plate is another. The main bodies of the flagpoles are entwined with four vivid, life-like dragons, while beneath the dragons and phoenixes, tiger-head lotus motifs support a pair of cast-iron couplets. The left reads: “Iron poles praise virtues high as a thousand ren,” and the right: “Bronze pillars display loyalty shining through the nine heavens.”

The bases of the flagpoles consist of six sides and seven tiers. From bottom to top: the first tier is 19 cm high and 43 cm wide, featuring cast-iron peony flowers; the second tier is 55 cm high and 42 cm wide, adorned with continuous scroll patterns; the third tier is 45 cm high and 46 cm wide, decorated with wave patterns; the fourth tier is 36 cm high and 57 cm wide; the fifth tier is 35 cm high and 66 cm wide, made of bluestone with a raised relief of the “Dragon and Phoenix Facing the Sun” motif; the sixth tier is 30 cm high and 73 cm wide; the seventh tier is 68 cm high and 81 cm wide. Both the sixth and seventh tiers are plain bluestone. Inscriptions are cast on the fourth tier and the base.

As a historical artifact reflecting the commercial economy of the Qing Dynasty, Sanyi Temple holds significant research value. The iron flagpoles, having withstood two hundred years of history, remain largely intact—an exceptionally rare historical treasure. In 1961, the Huangchuan County Government designated it as a county-level key cultural relic protection unit. Document No. Yu Cultural Relics (2001) 314 listed it as a quasi-provincial-level protected site.

Address: North shore of Nanhai Lake, southern part of Huangchuan County, Xinyang City, Henan Province

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units