Shipai Kangwang Temple

Shipai Kangwang Temple

Shipai Kangwang Temple is a cultural heritage site protected at the Guangdong Provincial level.

Kangwang Temple is located in Shangbaotan Natural Village, Hengshan Village, Shipai Town, Dongguan City, also known as Lingying Shrine. According to the "Inscription on the Reconstruction of Lingying Shrine" from the 14th year of the Guangxu reign (1888), the exact founding date of Kangwang Temple is unknown, but it was renovated during the Yongzheng era, in the 8th year of the Daoguang reign (1828), and in the 14th year of the Guangxu reign. Originally built as a temple to worship the Northern Emperor, Xuanwu, it later housed the statue of King Kang and came to be known as Kangwang Temple. From the first to the ninth day of the tenth lunar month every year, the statue of Kangyu is paraded through the streets, accompanied by a rich variety of folk activities. On the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, villagers from other areas come to worship at Kangwang Temple, attracting numerous worshippers. The temple has a layout consisting of three bays, three courtyards, and a quadrangle, featuring a flush gable roof and a mixed post-and-lintel and rafter-and-purlin construction. It is 12.7 meters wide and 33.77 meters long, covering an area of approximately 429 square meters. King Kang refers to Kang Baoyi, a commander of the Longjie Division during the Song Dynasty, who was posthumously honored as the "Mighty, Benevolent, Propitious, and Heroic King" after sacrificing his life resisting the Jin invaders. The existing buildings are well preserved. The front ridge of the first hall features exquisite ceramic sculptures, with inscriptions on the front reading “Guangxu Year of the Pig” and on the back “Made by Baoyu Shop.” The existing statue of King Kang inside the temple was created before the 14th year of the Guangxu reign. The divine dragon throne used in the parade of King Kang was made in the 14th year of the Guangxu reign and is finely crafted. In 1993, Kangwang Temple was designated as a municipal-level cultural heritage site of Dongguan. On July 17, 2002, it was included in the fourth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units.

Hengshan Village: Located in the western part of Shipai Town, Hengshan Village neighbors the eastern bank of the Dongjiang River. It is traversed by Shipai Avenue, Li-Heng Avenue, and Shipong Avenue, offering very convenient transportation. The village covers an area of about 3.5 square kilometers, comprises six natural villages, has a permanent population of 1,500, and hosts over 7,000 migrant residents. The villagers of Hengshan are known for their simple and honest customs. The village is home to the precious cultural and historical heritage of Baotan Kangwang Temple—an ancient building from the Ming and Qing periods that bears witness to the religious culture and local traditions of the people of Hengshan. In 2002, Baotan Kangwang Temple was approved as a provincial cultural heritage protection unit by the relevant provincial authorities. After more than twenty years of reform and opening-up... More details about Hengshan Village++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units