Tongliang Anju Chenghuang Temple

Tongliang Anju Chenghuang Temple

The Tongliang Anju Chenghuang Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Chenghuang Temple in Tongliang’s Anju Ancient Town was first built in the 17th year of the Ming Dynasty’s Chenghua era (1481), renovated in the 47th year of the Wanli era (1619) by then-county magistrate Tang Yunsheng, burned down in the late Ming period, and rebuilt in the 10th year of the Qianlong era (1745) through fundraising led by monk Yichuan. It was further restored in the 6th year of the Daoguang era (1826) under the leadership of local official Shen Qing’an.

The Chenghuang Temple Taoist complex is built against a mountainside in a “three-courtyard” layout, featuring a central unified eave and two sides adorned with exquisitely carved flying eaves, creating a truly splendid sight. The main hall enshrines the City God, who holds the rank of County City God and is honored with the title “Manifest Relief Marquis.” Supporting deities include the Judges, various officials, and Generals Fan and Xie. To the left of the main hall are altars to the God of Wealth (Zhao Gongming), the God of Literature (Wenchang Dijun), and the Medicine King (Sun Simiao). The right hall is dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy (Cihang Zhenren), the Birth-Giving Goddess (also known as the “Child-Giving Goddess”), and the Queen Mother of the West. A flight of steps from the right hall leads up to the newly reconstructed Zhenwu Hall, which enshrines the Great God Zhenwu. In front of Zhenwu Hall stands the yet-to-be-reconstructed Jade Emperor Pavilion, from which visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire Anju Ancient Town.

The Chenghuang Temple Taoist complex is an officially recognized Taoist temple. Approved in 2012 by the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau of Tongliang County Government, it became a legally sanctioned site for religious activities and is part of the Quanzhen Longmen Sect of Taoism. Renowned Taoist leader and President of the Chinese Taoist Association, Ren Farong (member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Vice Chairman of its Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee), personally inscribed the temple’s plaque. On January 8, 2015, the Tongliang District Taoist Association was officially established, with its office located within the Chenghuang Temple Taoist complex.

Taoism has a long and deep-rooted history in Anju Ancient Town. Among the town’s famous “Nine Palaces and Eighteen Temples,” the “Nine Palaces”—including Wanshou Palace, Xuantian Palace, Zitong Palace, Wenchang Palace, Diwang Palace, Tianhou Palace, Nanhua Palace, and Upper and Lower Ziyun Palaces—and the “Eighteen Temples”—such as Chenghuang Temple, Chuanzhu Temple, Dongyue Temple, Huoshen Temple, Yaowang Temple, Longwang Temple, Huanhou Temple, Yuwang Temple, Kuige Temple, and Upper and Lower Wangye Temples—were all sites that once enshrined Taoist deities and patriarchs. This traditional Chinese religion has always been intertwined with the lives of the town’s residents and continues to serve the community to this day. For example, at the Chenghuang Temple, hundreds of worshippers come to burn incense and share vegetarian meals on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month. During the annual birthday celebration of the City God in May, believers from surrounding areas flock to the temple fair. In 2012, the grand “Procession of the City God” was held for the first time and has since become a traditional folk event in Anju Ancient Town, taking place annually on the tenth day of the fifth lunar month.