Yan Yu Temple

Yan Yu Temple

Yan Yu Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Di Ku Shrine is situated beneath the Flying Stone Peak of Yumu Mountain, directly above the Tuzhao’ao area of Shishilong. According to the *Annals of Ancient History*, “In ancient times, there was a rebellion led by Shuqi, and Duke Xin (Di Ku) pursued him to Yumu Mountain in Hengzhou, where he beheaded him.” Later, when Emperor Shun toured the south, he built this shrine here to honor him. In the autumn of 1993, when local residents pooled funds to renovate the Di Ku Shrine, they cleared the foundation and dug up over 4,000 ancient bronze coins, all dating from the Tang and Song dynasties. This suggests that the Di Ku Shrine was likely built during or before the Tang and Song periods.

The Di Ku Shrine is the only site in China dedicated to the worship of Di Ku. (According to legend, Di Ku is one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, which include the Flame Emperor, Yellow Emperor, Zhuanxu, Di Ku, Emperor Yao, and Emperor Shun.) The shrine was first built during the era of Emperor Shun and has experienced periods of prosperity and decline. There are two historically recorded major renovation efforts: one by Wang Zhao, an imperial minister of public works in the Ming Dynasty, and another in 1993 when local residents raised funds to rebuild the shrine, which had been destroyed during the Anti-Japanese War in 1944.

In 2001, Buddhist followers in Hengyang invested in constructing a complete Buddhist monastic complex at the Tuzhao Temple below the Di Ku Shrine. The project has now been fully completed. The Di Ku Shrine and Yan Yu Temple are integrated into one, presenting a grand and majestic presence, making it an important religious and cultural landmark in the city.