Dog Tomb Temple

Dog Tomb Temple

The Dog Tomb Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Dog Tomb Temple is located northwest of Litun Village, Hexing Town, Suiping County. It was built by Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu, to commemorate a white dog that saved his life when he was being hunted down and cornered by Wang Mang’s forces during the late Western Han Dynasty. The temple was erected to inspire future generations and demonstrate gratitude. The associated legend “Wang Mang Chasing Liu Xiu” was included in the first batch of the “Henan Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage List” on February 6, 2007.

Legend has it that in the late Western Han Dynasty, Wang Mang usurped the throne and mobilized troops to suppress rebel forces across the country. Liu Xiu, along with his mother and soldiers, encountered Wang Mang’s army near Wuyang. Outnumbered, they were scattered, and Liu Xiu fled alone. When he reached the area northwest of Litun Village in Hexing Town, he was utterly exhausted and fell asleep in the grass. When Wang Mang’s soldiers arrived, they found an endless expanse of reeds, making it impossible to search. They set fires in all directions, hoping to burn Liu Xiu alive. When he woke from his sleep, the pursuers had gone, leaving behind only charred earth as far as the eye could see. Nearby, the grass lay tangled and toppled, soaked with mud and water, and beside him lay a drenched white dog. Liu Xiu then realized that the dog had saved him by running to a nearby stream, covering itself in mud and water, and then rolling over the grass around him to prevent it from catching fire. After repeatedly making these trips, the loyal dog died from exhaustion.

Later, after Liu Xiu became emperor, he ordered the dog to be given a proper burial and a temple to be built in its honor, naming it the Dog Tomb Temple. The “Recompiled Ruzhou Prefecture Annals” contains a poem that reads: “Heaven and earth hold righteous spirit, bestowed upon all beings; bonds once formed, endure eternally. Beards may often veil the truth, yet the humble beast proves steadfast; I often lament the lack of record, yet here lies its tomb.” Research confirms that the Litun Dog Tomb Temple is the only dog-worshipping temple in China. Photo by Fan Jinfeng.