Temple of Hu Tu

Temple of Hu Tu

The Temple of Hu Tu is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Temple of Hu Tu

Temple of Hu Tu (Sixth Batch National Heritage Site)

Era: Song to Qing Dynasty

Address: Ximayu Village, Qingxu County

Built in memory of Hu Tu, an official of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period. The temple was first built in the first year of the Mingchang era of the Jin Dynasty (1190), renovated in the 26th year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1298), and expanded in the 14th year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1535). The temple site faces south and is composed of two courtyards. Existing structures include the Offering Hall, Main Hall, and Stele Corridor, covering an area of 1,875 square meters.

The Offering Hall is seven bays wide and six rafters deep, with a single-eave flush gable roof covered with gray tubular tiles and decorated with glazed tile edges. Its bracket sets feature single-tiered arms and 15-degree angled cantilevers. The central bay has a plank door, while the other bays are fitted with lattice windows. The interior side walls feature murals covering over 60 square meters, depicting scenes of the Rain God returning to his palace.

The Main Hall is three bays wide and four rafters deep. It was expanded during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty into a front and rear chamber — the front serving as an audience hall and the rear as a bedroom. The front section has a rolled shed hanging gable roof, while the rear has a single-eave hip-and-gable roof, connected via an interlocking structure. Inside, there are eight surviving Yuan Dynasty polychrome sculptures. The central figures are the 2-meter-tall statues of Hu Tu and his wife seated together, flanked by six 1-meter-tall maid statues. A horizontal plaque inscribed with “Famed Minister of the Three Jin States” hangs from the front eaves of the central bay. To the left is a side hall containing black and white Dragon King couple statues. The Offering Hall and adjacent Stele Corridor house a total of 18 stone tablets from various dynasties, detailing the deeds of Hu Tu and the historical development of the temple.

In May 2006, the Temple of Hu Tu was approved by the State Council as part of the Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units as an ancient building from the Song to Qing periods.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units