Temple of Di Qing

Temple of Di Qing

The Temple of Di Qing is a cultural tourism attraction.

Temple of Di Qing. Located in Dijia She Village, 30 kilometers south of Wenshui County, it is also known as the Shrine of Duke Di Wuxiang and serves as the family temple of Di Qing, a famous general of the Northern Song Dynasty. Originally built in the fourth year of the Jiayou era (1059) by Di Qing’s second son, Di Zi, together with his brothers and clan members, it was renovated in the second year of the Yuanyou era of the Yuan Dynasty (1296) by Di Hui, the seventh-generation descendant of Di Qing. The existing buildings were constructed in the twelfth year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1873). In 1957, the east and west side halls were unfortunately demolished, leaving only the main hall and the mountain gate. In 1994, villagers of Dijia She collectively funded some repairs to the main hall, which still stands on eight steps as per the original design—three bays with two pillars, single-eave flush gable roof, no bracket sets above the eaves but with flying rafters. Several stone steles stand on the east and west sides under the eaves, among which the “Record of the Shrine of Duke Di Wuxiang” erected by Di Hui is the most precious.

The facade features latticed doors and windows, and beneath the eaves hangs a horizontal plaque erected in October of the tenth year of the Tongzhi era (1871) by the entire village, inscribed with: “Master of Martial Strategy.” Above the door is another horizontal plaque from the Dingmao year of the Jiaqing era (1807), inscribed with: “Renowned Sage of the Song Dynasty.” Both plaques have blue backgrounds, golden frames, and golden characters. At the center of the main hall is a shrine housing a wooden seated statue of Di Qing. He has a delicate and refined face, gentle demeanor, and a tuft of long beard; clad in armor and wearing a purple crown, he is dressed in full marshal regalia. At the four corners of the hall stand four civil and military attendants: on the east inner side, a civil attendant holds the imperial sword bestowed by the emperor; on the east outer side, a military attendant holds a ferocious-looking bronze mask; on the west inner side, a civil attendant presents the marshal’s seal; and on the west outer side, a military attendant wields a large spear without tassels and with a combined arrow design.

The east and west walls of the hall originally featured murals. Currently, the mural on the west wall is gone, while the east wall has a repainted central painting and a couplet. The painting depicts ancient pines, a bright moon, and a young disciple paying homage to an elderly Confucian scholar. The couplet, composed by Han Qi, a prominent Northern Song politician, reads: “Having admired all the fine blossoms, I rest peacefully in spring; drunk amid fading red blooms, I chant through day and night.” Such poetic lines in the shrine of a famed general are quite thought-provoking.

Phone: 0358-3022422

Address: Dijia She Village, 30 kilometers south of Wenshui County