Nantou Baode Temple

Nantou Baode Temple

Baode Temple, located in Nantou Ancient City in Shenzhen, was built by local villagers in honor of Lai Qiqing, the recipient of an imperial plaque bestowed by the Ming emperor. The temple’s red ceremonial gate, its high threshold, and the red-background gold-lettered plaque above it all symbolize supreme imperial authority—clear signs of the temple’s lofty and unique status. Baode Temple is increasingly recognized for its distinctive blend of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist traditions.

Within the ancient Xin’an County (the former name of Shenzhen), Baode Temples were constructed in Nantou Ancient City, Xixiang Market, Shatou Market, and Shek Wu Hui in Hong Kong’s New Territories. These temples are also known as Xunfu Temples. Historically, Xin’an County was established in the sixth year of the Xianning era during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (331 AD). Over the centuries, countless officials served here. But which figures are commemorated at the Xunfu Temples? According to county records, they honor Wang Laijin, the Guangdong Xunfu (provincial governor) during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, and Zhou Youde, the Viceroy of Liangguang.

It is said that in the early years of the Qing Dynasty, loyalists resisting the Manchu rule retreated to the southeastern coastal areas to continue their fight. Among them, the most powerful force was led by General Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga), who was based in Taiwan. He commanded a formidable navy, with many soldiers hailing from the coastal regions of Fujian and Guangdong, where family ties remained strong. Aside from exchanging daily necessities, these coastal residents also farmed along the shores. By the end of the 18th year of the Shunzhi era (1661), to sever ties between the coastal inhabitants and Zheng Chenggong’s forces, the “Prohibition Against Maritime Trade Edict,” also known as the “Relocation Edict,” was issued: “Zheng Chenggong has occupied coastal areas for years, using the seas as his base, with no arable land to sustain his livelihood. All necessary provisions such as grain, iron, timber, and other materials are produced on land. If not for treacherous merchants secretly aiding and trading with him, this rebel would soon find himself trapped.”

Subsequently, imperial officials were dispatched to post notices in villages along the southeastern coast, and large numbers of troops were deployed to forcibly relocate residents. The relocation measures were extremely brutal. Wherever officials went, houses were demolished and boats burned, and local inhabitants were driven away from their homes. Those who resisted were executed by military law. “Within three days, all land must be cleared of people and left desolate.” Countless villages were instantly reduced to wilderness. Even the prestigious county government office of Xin’an found itself with no subjects to govern. Magistrate Zhang Pu had no choice but to request the revocation of the county. In the fifth year of the Kangxi reign (1666), the court approved the dissolution of Xin’an County, merging its remaining territories into Dongguan County. The revocation of Xin’an County due to forced relocation is an unprecedented case in history.

The displaced populace hoped for a swift return to their homeland, but the authorities deployed troops to dig boundary ditches, build border walls, and set up signal towers, strictly forbidding anyone from entering the restricted zones. Those who crossed the boundary were put to death. With no prospects of returning home and their meager savings exhausted, many faced destitution, leading to tragic scenes of corpses lying unclaimed along the roads.

At that time, Guangdong Xunfu Wang Laijin deeply sympathized with the suffering of the people of Xin’an. In the sixth year of the Kangxi reign, he risked his career to submit a memorial pleading for the restoration of the original boundaries. In his “Memorial on Restoring the Boundaries and Rebuilding the Homeland,” he wrote: “The coastal people have suffered immensely—some were slaughtered, their bodies strewn across fields; some were captured, torn from their families; others were subjected to excessive taxation, forced to pawn their wives and children, enduring untold misery… I hereby petition to immediately lift the ban on the relocated areas, allowing the displaced people to return and resume farming and salt production. The stakes in the harbors and rivers should be removed to permit the people to fish and gather…”. However, Wang Laijin was soon dismissed from office and died in despair in Guangzhou. Lu Xingzu, the Viceroy of Liangguang, was also implicated and removed from his post. Later, Zhou Youde, the Governor of Shandong, was promoted to Viceroy of Liangguang, and Liu Bingquan, an academician of the Nei Guoshi Yuan (Inner Court of National History), was appointed as the new Guangdong Xunfu. Both officials questioned the coastal relocation policy and continued to submit memorials to the throne, vividly describing the harms caused by the “boundary relocation.” In the first month of the eighth year of the Kangxi reign, the Qing court finally rescinded the “Relocation Edict,” permitting residents to return to their original homes. In July of the same year, Emperor Kangxi issued an edict to restore Xin’an County. Thus, after eight long years of northern relocation and immense suffering, the ordeal finally came to an end.

To express their gratitude to Governor Wang, communities in several locations established temples in his honor, naming them “Xunfu Temples.” In the Hong Kong area, where the suffering had been the most severe, the villagers were especially thankful to Governor Wang and Viceroy Zhou. Therefore, the “Five Great Clans of the New Territories”—including the Liu clans’ Liuwanshi Hall and Liuyunsheng Hall in Sheung Shui, the Pang clan’s Dadetang in Fanling, the Tang clan’s Duitsyuntang in Lung Yeuk Tau, the Tang clan’s Chunghingtang in Tai Po Tau, the Hou clan’s Jinyanyangang Family in Ho Sheung Heung, and the Man clan’s Manheungyu Hall in San Tin—jointly raised funds to build a “Xunfu Temple.”

Later, as both Zhou Youde and Wang Laijin were jointly venerated, the temple came to be called “Baode Temple.” A “Xunfu Street” was also established in Shek Wu Hui, where it remains to this day. Two years ago, when I attended the Tai Ping Ching Chiu festival of the Liu Clan in Shek Wu Hui, Sheung Shui, I even saw the “Xunfu Temple” and witnessed the local parade carrying the statues of Governors Wang and Zhou.

This shows that the tradition of gratitude among the people of Xin’an has been passed down through generations since ancient times.