Tianbogong Park

Tianbogong Park

Introduction to the Origins of Tianbogong, Guanyin Temple, and Jade Emperor Hall Situated on Jiulonggang in the eastern suburbs of Meizhou City, Tianbogong and the Jade Emperor were first built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1573 AD), boasting a history of over four hundred years. The site boasts picturesque scenery, with the clear waters of the Meijiang River in front and towering green mountains behind. Embraced by ranges of hills and exuding a majestic aura, with energy converging from all directions, offering a panoramic view of Meizhou City, it can truly be described as a

feng shui treasure land. It has long been praised with the saying: “The magnificent halls reach up to the Three Pure Ones’ realm, while the heavenly incense drifts as if wandering through the palaces of the Nine Heavens.”

reputation.

Around the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, locals began worshipping the Jade Emperor, the Forgiving Sovereign of Heaven, on Jiulonggang. At that time, it was called Yuqing Palace, a very simple incense-burning site (which is now the Jade Emperor Hall, dedicated to the Jade Emperor).

About sixty years later, about a hundred zhang away from Yuqing Palace in the same orientation, a伯公 (Tudigong) altar was established. Legend has it that a fisherman surnamed Liao from Xiyang, while fishing in the river, scooped up a stone statue of Tudigong and carelessly threw it back into the river. Some time later, while fishing upstream, he scooped up the same statue again and, once more, nonchalantly tossed it back. More than a year later, while fishing in Dapu, the first cast of his net brought up the Tudigong statue. As the saying goes, “Bad things don’t happen three times.” Not daring to throw it back into the river again, Liao took it home and placed it on his altar table. That very night, he dreamed that Tudigong scolded him, saying: “I am the Heavenly Tudigong, not the River Tudigong—you must not throw me back into the river again.”

“I have a certain fate with you. You should place me on a high mountain facing west from the east, so that people can burn incense and worship me, allowing me to receive the offerings of the people and absorb the essence of heaven and earth. I will also bless you and the general populace in return.” Liao kept this in mind and chose an auspicious day to place Tudigong here. Initially named “Liao Shanchu Fuyu Tudigong,” it was later renamed Tianbogong. The incense offerings at the altar gradually flourished. This is the legendary origin of Tianbogong and the Jade Emperor Hall.

However, during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s, influenced by extreme leftist ideologies, monks were forced to return to secular life, and temples were severely damaged. With the arrival of the reform and opening-up era, the Party’s religious policies were reinstated. To glorify the Dharma and promote Buddhism, local residents and devotees unanimously appointed Monk Hongkai (Yang Zhuohua) to lead the reconstruction of the temple and revive incense offerings. The Guanyin Hall was added, and a cement road was paved around the mountain, allowing cars to reach the front of the temple. On the mountain, structures such as the Jiulong Pavilion, Changshou Pavilion, Meihua Pavilion, and Wangmei Pavilion were built, each with unique architectural styles. A zoo was also opened for visitors’ enjoyment and leisure. Various facilities continue to improve and have become a beautiful destination for Meizhou citizens to exercise in the morning and for tourism.

Under the bright guidance of the Party’s religious policies, the temple is steadily moving toward a formal and orthodox direction, developing healthily.