Chenghuang Temple of Wuji County

Chenghuang Temple of Wuji County

Chenghuang Temple of Wuji County is a cultural tourism attraction.

Chenghuang Temple of Wuji County is located in the middle section of the central road of the county town. It covers an area of 6.5 mu. The temple was built during the Jin and Yuan dynasties and is renowned for its grand architecture. According to the *Wuji County Annals*, the temple was constructed in the first year of the Huangqing era of the Yuan Dynasty (1321). It underwent multiple renovations and reconstructions in the third year of the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty (1467), the 23rd year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1818), and the ninth year of the Republic of China (1920).

In ancient times, the Chenghuang Temple was a place dedicated to the worship of the City God (Chenghuang). The City God is a guardian deity who oversees matters of the underworld. Therefore, it was customary in ancient times to offer sacrifices to the City God, encouraging people to remain obedient and resigned to their fate in order to maintain feudal order.

In the past, the Chenghuang Temple featured large flagpoles three zhang high at its entrance, flanked by four tall stone steles on either side, as well as two horse boys leading tall horses at the gate. Upon entering the gate, visitors would see a grand elevated opera stage where they could enjoy performances by famous opera actors. They could also admire the mural masterpieces created by renowned folk painters in the front hall.

In the central courtyard of the temple, the east and west corridors were lined with statues of the Ten Kings of Hell, each displaying solemnity in different postures and forms. The walls were painted with murals depicting superstitious teachings such as walking on blades, descending into seas of fire, being boiled in oil, sawn in half, ground in mills, hung on scales, and the Twenty-Four Types of Punishment. Further north were two incense burners for worshippers to offer incense. At the northern end of the central courtyard was the main hall of the Chenghuang Temple, with six black-clad attendants standing guard on either side. The central shrine held the statue of the Chenghuang, flanked by the Four Heavenly Kings, all glaring fiercely, creating an eerie atmosphere.

In the rear courtyard of the temple, the east and west wing rooms housed statues of heavenly soldiers and generals, while the central room in the north contained statues of the parents of the Chenghuang. In the northwest corner of this room stood a three-dimensional statue of the “Child-Giving Grandma” cradling a baby boy—a must-visit spot for those praying for offspring. The 15th day of the fifth lunar month each year was the main temple festival day of the Chenghuang Temple. In ancient times, on this temple fair day, devout men and women would come to burn incense and make wishes.

They would also pray. With the passage of time, while people continued to eliminate superstitions, the originally superstitious activities of the temple fair gradually transformed into days for material exchanges and economic trade, fundamentally changing the nature of the temple fair.

After enduring hundreds of years of vicissitudes, especially repeated damage during wartime, most of the cultural relics were lost. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, in 1956, a People’s Auditorium was built in front of the Chenghuang Temple. In 1998, the People’s Auditorium was demolished and rebuilt as a street-side park, with a three-story building housing the Senior Cadres’ Activity Center erected along the street. Inside the park are stone sculptures depicting the ancient notable figures of Wuji County, Liu Kun and Zhen Luo. The east and west sides of the park feature classical-style pavilions and corridors that connect the front and back sections. The over 600-year-old main hall of the Chenghuang Temple has been restored to its former glory. In the eastern part of the park, the “Rising at the Crowing of the Rooster” Stele Garden was established in 2000. It consists of 228 replicated and carved calligraphy works of the phrase “Rising at the Crowing of the Rooster,” collected over 20 years by Major General Tian Yongqing, a native of Wuji County, from high-ranking government leaders, renowned calligraphers, and prominent social figures. It has become a rare contemporary treasure trove of calligraphic art.

Currently, the street-side park, with the Chenghuang Temple as its main structure and complemented by the “Rising at the Crowing of the Rooster” Stele Garden, has become one of the cultural landscapes for people to visit and explore.