Pingchang Baiyi Temple

Pingchang Baiyi Temple

The Baiyi Temple Neighborhood Committee of Baiyi Town, Pingchang County, is located in the ancient town of Baiyi, Pingchang. This historic town boasts a long history, profound cultural heritage, picturesque scenery, and abundant tourism resources, including well-preserved ancient architecture, prestigious Hanlin culture, and a natural ecological environment highlighted by its water features. During the Jin Dynasty, it was known as "Liuzhou City," during the Song Dynasty as "Wanrong Commandery." In the 12th year of Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty, "Yongmu County" was established here, later changed to "Yongkang Town." In the Jiazheng Year (1644) of the Chongzhen Emperor, a statue of the White-robed Guanyin was erected at the old street’s memorial archway, from which the name “Baiyi” (White Robes) originated.

Since the mid-Qing Dynasty, the area has been renowned as a hub of scholarship, with dozens of individuals earning scholarly titles such as Hanlin scholar, imperial examination graduate, selected tribute student, and supervised student during the Jiaqing and Daoguang reigns alone. Among them, Wu Desiao, an imperial graduate, was one of the initiators of the Shanghai Strong Learning Society during the Hundred Days’ Reform, but he was tragically executed. The modern thinker Huang Zunxian wrote a poem mourning him. Wu Desiao’s son, Wu Tieqiao, was also a radical figure during the Hundred Days’ Reform. In April of the 23rd year of the Guangxu reign (1897), Chen Baozhen, then governor of Hunan, invited Tieqiao to manage mining affairs in Hunan. Tieqiao traveled from Shanghai to Hankou but died of heatstroke in Hankou without sweating, while visiting as a guest.

Another notable figure surnamed Wu from Baiyi, Wu Depu, successively served as magistrate of Shibing County, magistrate of Anping County, and prefectural magistrate and county magistrate of Zunyi. He later held the post of Wing Commander, overseeing military affairs for a total of 30 years. Due to his achievements in frontier administration, he was summoned by the emperor and bestowed the yellow mandarin jacket (his former residence, the Wu Mansion, still stands today), as well as the heroic title of "Deyipulu." He was promoted to Grain Storage Commissioner of Guizhou, and in the 3rd year of the Guangxu reign, became Judicial Commissioner of Guizhou, concurrently serving as Provincial Administration Commissioner. In the 6th year of the Guangxu reign, he was appointed Provincial Administration Commissioner of Yunnan. In the Jiazheng Year (1884) of the Guangxu reign, a fire destroyed Wu Depu’s hometown, the ancient town of Baiyi. The emperor issued an edict for its reconstruction, allowing it to be modeled after the imperial palace. Taxes collected over thirteen years from the state and Ba rivers were allocated, along with donations totaling 100,000 taels of silver from various provinces. Master craftsmen were gathered from across the nation, and construction spanned ten years, resulting in a grand complex featuring six temples, three palaces, and the expansive Wu family residence. Within it are four well-preserved stone tablets inscribed with Yue Fei’s calligraphy of the phrase "Loyalty, Filial Piety, Integrity, and Clean Governance," each measuring 18 meters long and 1.2 meters wide, transported from Jiangxi by the Wu family. There is also a wooden plaque inscribed with Mi Fu’s calligraphy of “First Mountain,” a majestic Filial Piety Archway, and the Star of Literature pointing to the dipper — all forming a uniquely styled ancient architectural complex. With carved beams and painted rafters, and refined in taste, it attracted inscriptions from numerous officials and celebrities. The ancient town regained its splendor, shining brilliantly once again.

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