Jiuzhou Wenchang Palace

Jiuzhou Wenchang Palace

Jiuzhou Wenchang Palace

Wenchang Palace is situated to the west of the former Temple of Literature on Majia Lane in Jiuzhou Town. It was first constructed during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty by local gentry including Dai Shenren and Ren Quanzhou, and was later rebuilt during the Guangxu reign.

The palace faces north and features, in sequence, a memorial archway, a main gate, a front hall, side rooms, and the main hall. Today, only the main hall remains—a single-eave, hip-and-gable roof wooden structure. It spans five bays across, totaling 19 meters in width, and is 11.9 meters deep. The central bay features a raised-beam construction. The roof is covered with small blue tiles, featuring a coin-patterned ridge, and “Fu Shou” (fortune and longevity) tile ends and water spouts. The front facade is adorned with wooden finishes, while the other three sides are enclosed by hollow brick walls.

Wenchang Palace was originally dedicated to “Zhang Yazi, the Wenchang Emperor of Qiqu,” also known as Zhang Yazi. According to the “History of Ming ● Treatise on Rites,” Yazi was a man from the Jin dynasty who “lived in Qiqu Mountain (Zitong), served in the Jin dynasty, died in battle, and was honored with a temple. During the Tang and Song dynasties, he was successively granted titles up to the King of Yingxian. Taoists believe that the Heavenly Emperor appointed Yazi to oversee the affairs of the Wenchang Mansion and the records of worldly official ranks, hence in the Yuan dynasty he was further honored with the title of Emperor.”

In the early years of the Republic of China, this palace was repurposed as the campus of the County’s Second Girls’ Advanced Primary School, which was later expanded and renamed Jiuzhou Second Primary School, and has since been relocated. Although the interior decor of Wenchang Palace has been altered, its framework and roofing still retain their original Qing Dynasty appearance. In 1989, it was listed as a cultural relic protection unit of Huangping County.