Luokou Fubo Temple (Former Site of Mao Zedong’s Investigation of the Hunan Peasant Movement)

Luokou Fubo Temple (Former Site of Mao Zedong’s Investigation of the Hunan Peasant Movement)

Luokou Fubo Temple (Former Site of Mao Zedong’s Investigation of the Hunan Peasant Movement) is a cultural relic protection unit of Hunan Province, a classic red tourism attraction, and a patriotic education base.

Luokou Fubo Temple — the Former Site of Mao Zedong’s Investigation of the Hunan Peasant Movement is located on Fuboling (also known as Xiaoshiwei), at the southern end of Luokou Town, Zhuzhou County, Zhuzhou City. It stands on the northern bank of the Lushui River, fronted by steep cliffs and overlooking a deep pool.

According to the "Book of the Later Han · Biography of Ma Yuan," in the 17th year of the Jianwu era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (41 AD), the women of Jiaozhi, Zhao Ce and Zhao Er, under pressure from Governor Su Ding, led a rebellion, capturing over sixty cities beyond the mountains. Zhao Ce declared herself queen. Emperor Guangwu appointed Ma Yuan as General Fubo due to his expertise in naval warfare and military prowess. Leading 20,000 troops and 2,000 warships southward, Ma Yuan beheaded 5,000 rebels and captured tens of thousands more, achieving victory before returning. During his southern campaign, Ma Yuan passed through the county territory and camped at places such as Luokou and Zhaoling Beach. Later generations commemorated these events by naming the site where Ma Yuan stationed his troops in Luokou as Fuboling. It is also recorded in the "Chronicles of the Ancient Fubo Temple" that since the Tang Dynasty, locals had built temples on Fuboling to enshrine Ma Yuan. After the Tang Dynasty, the temple experienced multiple cycles of destruction and rebuilding, and was renovated again in the 11th year of the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty (1861 AD).

In 1926, the peasant movement flourished near Luokou, and Fubo Temple became the office site for the Luokou Peasant Association, the Women’s Federation, and the 22nd District Party Branch of the Kuomintang in Liling County. In February 1927, Mao Zedong visited Luokou to investigate the peasant movement and held a meeting with key activists of the local peasant movement inside Fubo Temple. In September 1944, Japanese invasion aircraft bombed Luokou, completely destroying Fubo Temple.

To commemorate Mao Zedong’s early revolutionary activities and honor the martyrs of the Luokou peasant movement, between 1968 and 1970, with funding from the provincial and municipal governments, community support, and contributions of labor and materials, Fubo Temple was rebuilt on its original site following the old design. The restored Fubo Temple is a building with green sealed hip-and-gable walls, facing south, with a central axis that includes, in sequence, a front hall, rear hall, and three-bay width, featuring two courtyards in the middle. The east side has wing rooms, all with flush gable roofs. The temple features red walls, blue tile roofs, painted pavilions, and carved railings.

Luokou Fubo Temple — the Former Site of Mao Zedong’s Investigation of the Hunan Peasant Movement was designated as a municipal cultural relic protection unit by the Zhuzhou Municipal People's Government in April 1999, as a provincial cultural relic protection unit by the Hunan Provincial People's Government in January 2011, and as a Zhuzhou Municipal Patriotic Education Base by the Zhuzhou Municipal Committee Propaganda Department in November 2011.

Ma Yuan (14 BC – 49 AD), courtesy name Wen Yuan, was a famous general of the Eastern Han Dynasty from Maoling in Fufeng (now northeast of Xingping, Shaanxi). Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, conferred upon him the title of “General Fubo,” hence he is also referred to as “Ma Fubo” in later generations.

In his youth, Ma Yuan had no interest in burying himself in books and always wanted to go to the frontier regions to raise horses and herd livestock. During the reign of Wang Mang, he served as a district courier (a local official). While escorting criminals, out of sympathy, he released them and fled, hiding in the then-frontier Beidi Commandery (with its seat in what is now northwest Qingyang, Gansu). Later, after receiving amnesty from the court, he stayed in Beidi to... [More details about Ma Yuan]

Mao Zedong (December 26, 1893 – September 9, 1976), courtesy name Runzhi (originally Yongzhi, later changed to Runzhi), pen name Ziren. A native of Xiangtan, Hunan. He was the leader of the Chinese people, a Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionary, strategist, and theorist, the principal founder and leader of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and the People's Republic of China, as well as a poet and calligrapher. From 1949 to 1976, Mao Zedong served as the paramount leader of the People's Republic of China. His contributions to the development of Marxism-Leninism, military theory, and... [More details about Mao Zedong]

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Hunan Province