Linfen Guan Di Temple

Linfen Guan Di Temple

Linfen Guan Di Temple is a national key cultural relics protection unit.

The deity worshipped at Guan Di Temple is Guan Yu, a great general of the Shu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period. Located on the west side of South Street in Chengnei Village, Linfen, the temple was first built in the seventh year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty and was renovated in 1988. It is a key cultural relic protection unit of Linfen City and also one of the best-preserved ancient buildings in Yicheng County today.

Guan Yu, commonly known as “Guan Gong,” with the courtesy name Yunchang, was from Changping Village, Hejian County, Shanxi Province. Renowned for his loyalty, righteousness, bravery, and martial prowess, his fame spread across the land. Successive emperors held Guan Yu — who embodied the virtues of “loyalty, filial piety, chastity, and righteousness” — as an exemplary model, greatly praising and bestowing titles upon him to “educate” their subjects. In the Song Dynasty, he was titled “Yiyong Wuan King” (Righteous and Brave Martial King of Peace); during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, he was specially honored as “Sanzhi Fumo Dadi Shenwei Yuanzhen Tianzun” (Celestial Emperor Who Subdues Demons Across Three Realms and Exerts Authority Over Heaven); and in the first year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, he was granted the title “Guansheng Dadi” (Great Emperor Guan). During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Guan Yu was not only seen as a hero who upheld eternal brotherhood and unwavering loyalty, but he was also believed to have various divine powers such as overseeing life and fortune, aiding in imperial examinations, curing illnesses, dispelling disasters, warding off evil spirits, patrolling the underworld, and even attracting wealth and protecting merchants. As Guan Gong became a high-ranking deity in state-sponsored worship, both Buddhism and Taoism vied to incorporate him into their respective religions to bolster their prestige. Consequently, he was revered by people from all walks of life, and successive rulers used his image to “educate” their subjects and maintain their rule. This is the reason why Guan Di Temples or Wu Temples were constructed.

The Chengnei Guan Di Temple is one of the most distinctive ancient architectural landmarks in our county. Along its central axis, to the south are a pass-through stage and a stone memorial archway; in the middle is a front hall; and at the end is the Chunqiu Tower (Tower of Spring and Autumn). On the southern side, there are two rows of corridors running east to west, and at the back, three side halls are located on the left and right. The total area is 1,470 square meters. The Chunqiu Tower, named after the statue of Guan Yu seated and reading the “Spring and Autumn Annals,” is the main structure of the temple. It faces south and is built on a 1.6-meter-high stone platform, featuring a square floor plan. The building has a width and depth of three bays, with a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof on a cruciform plan. It is a two-story pavilion-style structure, standing 17 meters tall. Four vertical pillars rise straight through to the second-floor bracket sets, supporting the weight of the upper structure. Both the upper and lower floors are surrounded by corridors and balustrades. The lower level has stone railings, while the upper level has wooden ones. Each floor is supported by twenty corridor pillars that extend to the eaves. The undersides of the eaves feature intricately carved beams, brackets, and decorations such as dragons playing with pearls, all exquisitely crafted. Between the pillars of the first and second floors, walls enclose three sides of the tower body, while the front side consists of six-panelled lattice windows. The lower floor houses a statue of Guan Yu dressed as an emperor, seated solemnly alongside statues of Zhou Cang — clad in armor and holding a large broadsword — and Guan Ping, who holds a jade seal. They present an imposing and dignified presence. Guan Yu’s seated figure is dressed in battle robes adorned with embroidered dragons and phoenixes, glaring into the distance. His right hand strokes his long, flowing beard, and his left hand rests gently on his right thigh, radiating nobility and might. The upper floor features a statue of Guan Yu in casual attire, depicted “reading the Spring and Autumn Annals at night.” The Chunqiu Tower rises majestically towards the sky. Climbing to its surrounding corridor and looking out, one can enjoy panoramic views of Yicheng County’s beautiful mountains and rivers.

Since its construction during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, the Chengnei Guan Di Temple has drawn worshippers throughout the ages. On the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, as well as during major traditional festivals, many people bring incense, paper money, and offerings to kneel and pray, seeking divine blessings for protection against disasters. Some also sincerely make vows or fulfill pledges in hopes of having their wishes granted. From the 1980s to the present, the county cultural relics management office has been located in this temple. Stone carvings, inscriptions, pottery, and other relics collected from across the county are displayed here, attracting a continuous stream of visitors. The Guan Di Temple has become one of Yicheng’s important scenic highlights.

Guan Yu (162?–220), of Han ethnicity, was born during the Yanxi era of Emperor Huan of the Eastern Han Dynasty. His courtesy name was Yunchang, originally Changsheng, and he hailed from Xieliang, Hedong (present-day Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province). A renowned general of the Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, he served as a Front General and was granted the title of Marquis of Hanshou Ting. He was also a military strategist. After his death, he was widely revered by the people and successively honored by successive imperial courts, eventually being worshipped as Guan Sheng Di Jun (Divine Lord Guan). In Buddhism, he is known as the Sangharama Bodhisattva and respectfully called “Guan Gong.” Later rulers revered Guan Yu as the “Martial Saint,” equal in status to Confucius, the “Civil Saint.”

Following Liu Bei

Guan Yu’s original courtesy name was Changsheng, later changed to Yunchang. In his early years, due to some trouble, he fled his hometown and went to Youzhou... More detailed information about Guan Yu++