Temple of Martial Valor

Temple of Martial Valor

The Temple of Martial Valor is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Temple of Martial Valor (commonly known as the Temple of King Wu) is located in the middle section of Fuchi Kou Old Street. In the first year of Huangwu during the Wu Kingdom of the Three Kingdoms period, Gan Ning, a renowned general of Eastern Wu, died in battle. To commemorate his achievements, a temple was established here in his honor. However, the highest reverence and grandest worship for him were seen during the Song Dynasty. After the Song Dynasty unified China, it sought out loyal ministers and righteous heroes from previous eras, bestowing Gan Ning with grand ceremonies and rich tributes. In the fifth year of the Kaibao era (972 AD), Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty posthumously honored him as Duke of Bao; in the fifth year of the Yuanfeng era (1082 AD), Emperor Shenzong honored him as Martial Duke of Bao of Wu; in the second year of the Zhenghe era (1112 AD), Emperor Huizong designated the temple as the Temple of Martial Valor; in the fifth year of the Xuanhe era (1123 AD), Emperor Huizong further honored Gan Ning as Prince of Martial Benevolence; in the second year of the Jianyan era (1128 AD), Emperor Gaozong honored him as Prince of Martial Benevolence and Martial Valor; in the fourth year of the Jianyan era (1130 AD), Emperor Gaozong also conferred upon him the title of Prince of Martial Valor, Benevolence, and Splendor of Wu; in the twenty-first year of the Shaoxing era (1151 AD), Emperor Gaozong once again honored him as the Eternal-Loving Prince of Martial Valor, Benevolence, and Splendor of Wu.

The Temple of Martial Valor faces the Snow-Rolling Tower on Huanglongzhou Island in the Yangtze River; near the entrance stands a flower stand opposite the main hall. The shrine complex includes a front hall, rear hall, side chambers, and the Jingjiao Shrine, along with a wine office and officials’ quarters, making it “the grandest riverside shrine.” The front hall enshrines statues of Gan Ning, his wife Lady Shunyou, their two sons Marquis Shaowei and Marquis Shaowu, and their daughter Lady Rouyi. The rear hall features a seated sculpture of Gan Ning and his wife together, while the side chambers house statues of other deities.

In those days, worshippers visited the Temple of Martial Valor day and night. Especially on the third day of the third lunar month each year, people engaged in folk performances such as tossing colored balls, running with bamboo horses, dancing with clamshell props, and walking on stilts, performing on the tomb platform of Gan Ning and within the shrine halls from morning till night. The celebrations remained as lively as ever. Pilgrims included not only locals of all ages but also enthusiastic visitors from nearby counties and districts. Particularly notable were the travelers and officials on boats passing through the river, all of whom made it a point to pay homage at the temple. In the sixth year of the Qiandao era (1170 AD), the great Southern Song literatus Lu You was traveling by boat to Sichuan to take up his post as Prefect of Kuizhou. On August 13th, he arrived at Fuchi Kou and specially prepared a pot of wine and a sacrificial pig to worship Gan Ning. His written tribute read: “I have been away from the capital for eight years, drifting with my home across ten thousand miles. I have always admired the noble principles of ancient heroes, especially in times of utmost hardship. As I climb the rivers and mountains and linger in this richly enshrined temple, I wonder who among the revered dead could rise again — my solitary tears fall with no response. Though my humble offering is modest, I hope the heroic spirit will descend.” Lu You marveled that the scale and grandeur of worship at the Temple of Martial Valor were “unmatched by any riverside shrine.”

The Snow-Rolling Tower and Jingjiao Shrine were later destroyed. After the founding of New China, the flower stand was repurposed as a public space, the shrine buildings were used as a school and grain store, and all the statues were removed. In recent years, the local government and surrounding communities have restored the Temple of Martial Valor on its original site. The main hall features thirty-eight imitation antique red-painted pillars, each 15 meters tall, stretching straight to the roof. The shrine is covered with glazed green tiles and features upturned eaves and flying rafters; inside, the statues of deities are majestic, with fluttering banners, fragrant incense, rhythmic drumming and bells, and a constant stream of visitors.

Gan Ning ( ? – 220 AD), courtesy name Xingba, was a native of Linjiang in Ba Commandery (present-day Zhong County, Chongqing). He was a famous general of the Sun Wu kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period, holding the official positions of Administrator of Xiling and General Who Breaks the Enemy.

In his youth, Gan Ning enjoyed the life of a roving swordsman. He gathered a group of followers, armed with bows and crossbows, and engaged in banditry in the region. He led a gang that robbed boats and cargo, wore elaborate clothing, and sported a bell, earning him the nickname “The Brocaded Sail Bandit.” Locals would know Gan Ning was nearby upon hearing the sound of his bell. He continued plundering ships and goods until his twenties before giving up robbery and devoting himself to studying the classics. Around the age of 18, he served briefly as an assistant magistrate in Shu Commandery. Later, he worked under Liu Biao and Huang Zu but was not highly valued. During this time, he killed Ling Cao, the father of Ling Tong... More detailed information about Gan Ning ++