Huangling Temple in Yichang

Huangling Temple in Yichang

Huangling Temple in Yichang is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

A few kilometers from the Three Gorges Dam, nestled at the foot of Huangniu Mountain on the southern bank of Huangniu Gorge within the Temple South Valley, stands an ancient building with red walls, yellow tiles, and resplendent golden hues. This is Huangling Temple, the oldest ancient structure in the Three Gorges.

Huangling Temple was originally called Huangniu Shrine or Huangniu Temple. Legend has it that the temple was built during the Spring and Autumn Period to honor the goddess who helped Yu the Great open the gorge. When the Song Dynasty literary figure Ouyang Xiu served as the magistrate of Yiling (now Yichang), he only believed in Yu’s achievement in carving through the mountains and regarded the legend of the divine ox assisting Yu as pure nonsense. Therefore, he renamed "Huangniu Temple" to "Huangling Temple."

When first built, Huangling Temple was grand in scale. "Visitors worshipped and danced before the temple, beating drums, playing reed pipes, and slaughtering white sheep." The incense offerings were abundant. However, after repeated destructions from wars, it was rebuilt several times. Though not as magnificent as the original, it remains the largest ancient structure in the Three Gorges. Currently, only the Yuwang Hall and Wuhou Shrine, rebuilt in the 46th year of the Ming Dynasty (1618 AD), are preserved.

The Yuwang Hall is magnificent, with upturned eaves, ornamental brackets, pottery tiles, and animal-shaped ridges. It is supported by 36 large nanmu wood pillars. Two wooden plaques hang high in front of the hall. One bears the inscription "Calming the River Waves" written by Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty, and the other "Eternal Divine Achievement," signed by Prince Hui. Outside the hall stands the "Huangniu Temple Record" stone tablet, which is said to have been written by Zhuge Liang.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units