Gongcheng Wu Temple

Gongcheng Wu Temple

Gongcheng Wu Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Gongcheng Wu Temple, also known as Guan Di Temple, is a shrine dedicated to Guan Yu, the renowned general from the Three Kingdoms period. To the right of Wu Temple lies Gongcheng Wen Temple. The two temples, Wen and Wu, divide Yingshan Mountain into two ridges—one facing east and the other west. Together, they form a harmonious and complementary whole.

Gongcheng Wu Temple was first built during the Ming Dynasty and has a history of 400 years. It is now a key cultural relic protection unit of the autonomous region. The entire temple complex covers an area of 2,100 square meters and is located at the southern foot of Yingshan Mountain, to the right of Wen Temple.

The Wu Temple complex consists of a stage, the main hall, Xie Tian Palace, the rear hall, and side halls on the east and west. The entire structure features double-eaved hip-and-gable roofs with upturned eaves, ornamented ridges adorned with clay sculptures of the Eight Immortals—both in relief and intaglio—vividly crafted. The yellow and green glazed tile roofs blend seamlessly with the radiant hues of Wen Temple, creating a shimmering golden ocean of light at the foot of Yingshan Mountain.

The Wu Temple stage is one of the two best-preserved ancient stages in Guangxi.

Aside from the stone foundation, the upper part of the stage is entirely made of wood. The stone base is carved with relief figures, while the stage itself features carved window and door panels along with shrines. Four golden pillars extend all the way to the top floor, bearing the load of the upper level, while the outer columns support the lower eaves. The underside of the stage once held 36 water jars, which reflected the sounds of gongs and drums from various angles, focusing the acoustics in the ceiling dome to produce resonance and amplify the sound, making it audible for miles. The stage’s red walls and yellow tiles, along with its double-eaved hip-and-gable roof and soaring upturned eaves, are adorned with clay sculptures of dragons, phoenixes, and the Eight Immortals, all lifelike. The front and rear halls are equally breathtaking, with intricately painted beams and upturned eaves that seem to touch the sky.

The Legend of the Wen and Wu Temples:

Legend has it that the ancestors of Gongcheng County chose to build the Wen Temple on the left and the Wu Temple on the right due to traditional Chinese beliefs. In ancient times, the left symbolized the east and yang, associated with life and regarded as noble—thus the location for Wen Temple, representing reverence for literature. The right symbolized the west and yin, associated with death and considered less noble—hence the location for Wu Temple, symbolizing restraint of martial force. The close proximity of the Wen and Wu Temples also signifies the harmony of yin and yang, and the balance of literature and martial values. By honoring literature first and then martial prowess, it fully embodies the cultural spirit of the Chinese nation. The coexistence of the Wen and Wu Temples in Gongcheng—one in the east, one in the west—at the same site is unique throughout China. Every year on the 16th day of the sixth lunar month, ceremonies are held to worship Guan Yu.