Temple of Duke Tai Chong

Temple of Duke Tai Chong

The Temple of Duke Tai Chong is a protected cultural heritage site of Guangdong Province.

The Dudufu, also known as the Temple of Duke Tai Chong, is located in Xiadi Village, Xialin Township, Guanbu Town, Chaoyang District, Shantou City, Guangdong Province. It was the residence of Huang Wuxian, who served as the Governor of Yunnan during the Qing Dynasty.

In Xiadi Village, Guanbu Town, Chaoyang District, Shantou, there is a historical site called “Dudufu,” originally named “Jianwei Mansion,” also referred to as the “Temple of Duke Tai Chong” and commonly known as the “Old Xialin Mansion.” It was the residence of Huang Wuxian, who served as the Governor of Yunnan during the Qing Dynasty. The mansion was completed in the 14th year of the Guangxu reign (1888) and features architectural styles and decorations typical of late Qing folk buildings in the Chaoshan region. The residence remains well-preserved and still houses Qing-era plaques. It is recognized as a cultural heritage protection site.

The Dudufu faces southwest and covers an area of 8,334 square meters, with a total built-up area of 6,000 square meters. It is a classic example of the “Four-Horse Carriage” architectural style. The central ancestral hall symbolizes the “carriage,” while the secondary buildings on either side represent the “horses” pulling it. In this way, the ancestors enthroned in the “carriage” are drawn forward through history by their descendants, who are symbolized by the “horses” on either side. The rise and fall of the family, the glory of the ancestors, and the prosperity of the descendants are all vividly reflected in this grand structure.

Hanging above the central hall of the mansion is a plaque inscribed with the words “Guangyao Hall” (Hall of Radiant Glory). Originally written by Xia Tonghe, the top scholar of the 1898 Imperial Examination, the current plaque is a reproduction by Wu Nansheng, former Chairman of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Below the plaque hangs a portrait of Huang Wuxian, which was originally kept at the Chaoshan Guild Hall in Thailand. In 1979, Huang Shuyou, a Thai-based overseas Chinese and descendant of Huang Wuxian, learned that no one in the clan knew what Huang Wuxian looked like. Remembering that a portrait existed overseas, he brought it back to the village the following year.

Inside the ancestral hall, three Qing-era plaques are still preserved. They are titled “Imperial Decree Awarding Peacock Feather,” “Imperial Order Appointing Governor of Military Affairs,” and “Imperial Order Appointing Sealed-Stamp Commandery.” These three plaques narrowly escaped destruction during the “Smash the Four Olds” campaign when a local farmer hid them in a haystack. Later, when the farmer needed wood to make a wardrobe for his daughter’s wedding but lacked materials, he asked the carpenter to use the plaques. As it was getting late, the carpenter decided to work on them the next day. That night, the carpenter dreamed of an old man who told him, “You may make furniture, but under no circumstances should you damage these three plaques.” The next day, when the farmer asked the carpenter to proceed, the carpenter said, “I dare not use them. Last night, I dreamed that an old man instructed me that these plaques were bestowed by the imperial court and must not be tampered with, lest I bear responsibility for it.” Later, Huang Lihui, a descendant of Huang Wuxian, learned of the plaques’ whereabouts and preserved them. In 1997, when the Dudufu was listed as part of the fourth batch of cultural heritage protection sites in Chaoyang City, Huang Lihui donated the plaques.

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Guangdong Province