Cold Water Bao Gong Temple

Cold Water Bao Gong Temple

The Cold Water Bao Gong Temple is a cultural heritage site protected by Zhuzhou City.

The common people have long revered upright officials. During the Republic of China era, there were nine Bao Gong temples in Liling County. The Cold Water Bao Gong Temple is a relatively large and well-preserved Ming Dynasty structure in the city. The existing temple is located in Lengshui Village, Lishanba Town, and was originally built in the ninth year of the Zhengde reign during the Ming Dynasty (1514), with multiple renovations carried out during the Qing Dynasty. In 1928, part of the main hall was damaged. In 1985, local residents raised funds to restore the temple to its original appearance.

The temple faces south and is situated on a north-south axis. The main hall is constructed with a brick, wood, and stone structure, featuring a flush-gable roof. On either side of the entrance are couplets that read: “Filial to parents, loyal to the sovereign, devoted to the nation’s affairs, beneficent to the people—your virtue weighs heavy through the ages, and even today we recall the wise minister; you redressed grievances, resolved disputes, eliminated corrupt governance, and upheld justice—your mighty name echoes through the millennia, and in those days all praised you as the King of Hell.”

The stage covers an area of about 50 square meters and has a hip-and-gable roof, with wing corners curling upwards in the shape of phoenix tails. The caisson ceiling, beams, and wooden panels are all painted with colorful dragons. Between the stage and the main hall lies a courtyard, with a flagstone pathway in the center and corridors on both sides. In 1989, it was listed as a municipal-level cultural heritage site.