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Gongjing Five Emperors Temple

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The Five Emperors Temple worships the "Five Plague Gods" (the five sons of the Jade Emperor) and is built on the high riverbank of the Xushui River at a place called Wuhuang Cave, which is several zhang above the river. No one knows exactly where Wuhuang Cave is; it is said that the cave lies deep beneath the high riverbank in the water, with cliffs as unfathomable as the depths, and it is named Wuhuang Cave because of the temple. The Wuhuang Cave "has two main halls, two side halls, and several rooms for monks' quarters..." The main hall is at the front, where on the altar there are five vividly armored, golden clay statues of deities with fierce expressions and menacing postures, and a plaque inscribed with "Five Emperors Spirit Lords" hangs above. The earliest lantern festival in Zigong was held here, known as the "Five Emperors Lantern Festival," which is considered the birthplace of the Zigong Lantern Festival (see the stone tablet discovered at the Five Emperors Temple and now housed in the Zigong Lantern Museum). Legend has it that these five plague gods were "righteous bandits" who robbed the rich to aid the poor. It is said that the Five Emperors were the five sons of the Jade Emperor, Zhang Dadi. When Jiang Ziya was enfeoffing the gods, he harbored selfish thoughts and wanted to proclaim himself the Jade Emperor. When he called out "Jade Emperor Jiang Dadi," a kitchen worker surnamed Zhang came out to give thanks. Ziya said it was "Jiang," but the kitchen worker insisted it was "Zhang." Ziya told Zhang to swear an oath on the Three Lives Bridge, and Zhang swore to be a "male thief and female prostitute"; thus, the Jade Emperor incurred a curse from the gods, so all five of his sons became thieves, and all seven daughters descended to earth to steal men. And because Ziya acted out of selfishness, by the time all the other gods had been enfeoffed, only "the 'Swallowing Mouth' and the 'Taishan Stone Can Defy' were left for him to manage ghosts," so Jiang Ziya ended up as just a "Swallowing Mouth Bodhisattva." Today, only one hall of the temple remains, repurposed as a residence.

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The Gongjing Five Emperors Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Five Emperors Temple

The temple worships the "Five Plague Gods" (the five sons of the Jade Emperor) and is built on the high riverbank of the Xushui River at a place called Wuhuang Cave, which is several zhang above the river. No one knows exactly where Wuhuang Cave is; it is said that the cave lies deep beneath the high riverbank in the water, with cliffs as unfathomable as the depths, and it is named Wuhuang Cave because of the temple. The Wuhuang Cave "has two main halls, two side halls, and several rooms for monks' quarters." The main hall is at the front, where on the altar there are five vividly armored, golden clay statues of deities with fierce expressions and menacing postures, and a plaque inscribed with "Five Emperors Spirit Lords" hangs above. The earliest lantern festival in Zigong was held here, known as the "Five Emperors Lantern Festival," which is considered the birthplace of the Zigong Lantern Festival (see the stone tablet discovered at the Five Emperors Temple and now housed in the Zigong Lantern Museum). Legend has it that these five plague gods were "righteous bandits" who robbed the rich to aid the poor. It is said that the Five Emperors were the five sons of the Jade Emperor, Zhang Dadi. When Jiang Ziya was enfeoffing the gods, he harbored selfish thoughts and wanted to proclaim himself the Jade Emperor. When he called out "Jade Emperor Jiang Dadi," a kitchen worker surnamed Zhang came out to give thanks. Ziya said it was "Jiang," but the kitchen worker insisted it was "Zhang." Ziya told Zhang to swear an oath on the Three Lives Bridge, and Zhang swore to be a "male thief and female prostitute"; thus, the Jade Emperor incurred a curse from the gods, so all five of his sons became thieves, and all seven daughters descended to earth to steal men. And because Ziya acted out of selfishness, by the time all the other gods had been enfeoffed, only "the 'Swallowing Mouth' and the 'Taishan Stone Can Defy' were left for him to manage ghosts," so Jiang Ziya ended up as just a "Swallowing Mouth Bodhisattva." Today, only one hall of the temple remains, repurposed as a residence.