Hometown of Wang Daofu

Hometown of Wang Daofu

The hometown of Wang Daofu is a cultural tourism attraction.

The “Shangshu Wang Public Temple” in Wang Daofu’s hometown was built to commemorate Wang Daofu, a military minister of the Southern Song Dynasty and a renowned anti-Yuan general. It is located in the 15th She community of Chebei Street, Tianhe District, Guangzhou.

Wang Daofu sacrificed his life for his country during the Battle of Yamen in Xinhui in the second year of the Xiangxing era (1279) of the Southern Song Dynasty. His eldest son, Wang Yingsun, who served as county magistrate in the Southern Song, was heartbroken and swore never to surrender to the Yuan. He soon passed away full of regret. His grandson, Wang Longxi, adhered to the family precept of “not serving under the Yuan,” and secretly organized militias to resist the Yuan. After the plot was exposed, he led his entire family back to their hometown and lived in seclusion in what is now Chebei Village. In the sixth year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1346), a family temple was built in memory of his grandfather Wang Daofu. In the first year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1403), his descendants expanded the family temple and renamed it the “Shangshu Wang Public Temple.” It was renovated in the 60th year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1795) and the 29th year of the Guangxu era (1903), and underwent maintenance in 2002. The “Shangshu Wang Public Temple” is a traditional Chinese-style courtyard structure made of brick and wood. It has a rigorous layout, an imposing and majestic appearance, and covers a total area of 1,048.8 square meters. It has three courtyards in depth, with a total width of 28.5 meters and a depth of 36.8 meters. The front gate is three bays wide and three bays deep, with two side halls and a flush gable roof covered with gray tubular tiles. The main door plaque is made from a single piece of granite, featuring five deeply carved large characters that read “Shangshu Wang Public Temple,” with bold and vigorous calligraphy. To the right of the plaque are small inscriptions carved in intaglio, such as “Temple of Wang Daofu, Scholar-Official and Minister of War of the Song Dynasty” and “Renovated in the Gui Mao Year of the Guangxu Era,” while the left side bears small characters such as “Renovated in the 60th Year of the Qianlong Era, Summer, Ji Mao Month, Auspicious Day.” On either side of the plaque are two colorful sculpted figures of high-ranking officials in the style of the Song Dynasty, and the center of the wooden carved eaves board is inscribed with “Made by Pan Runji of Huixian Street, Provincial City,” flanked by exquisitely carved patterns of flowers and figures. On both sides of the gate are granite stone drums, and the pair of thick, sturdy mahogany doors are painted with valiant door gods. Painted by the famed door god artist Lin Hongju of the Pearl River Delta region, the images of Qin Shubao and Yu Chigong in full armor stand guard on either side, appearing majestic and imposing. To the east and west of the door gods are golden calligraphic couplets that read “Boundless Blessings from Putian, Time-Honored Family Tradition of the Southern Song.”

The lower parts of the main walls of the ancestral hall are constructed from large blocks of red sandstone and volcanic rock (commonly known as “duck droppings stone”), interspersed with small pieces of differently colored red sandstone, retaining the grand yet casual style reminiscent of the Ming Dynasty. The lintels of the gates on either side of the Qingyun Lanes are inscribed with characters such as “Soaring Dragons” and “Rising Phoenixes.”

In the first courtyard, lush and verdant arborvitae and pomegranate trees are planted in the large flower stands on both sides. The pomegranate symbolizes fertility, representing a thriving lineage and everlasting prosperity, while the days are lived in happiness and wealth; the pine and cypress symbolize eternal youth and unyielding spirit. The two stone pillars in the side corridors are made of duck droppings stone, exhibiting characteristics typical of the Qianlong period. The corridor walls are inlaid with 12 Qing Dynasty Shiwan ceramic window panels featuring patterns of blessings such as “prosperity,” “longevity,” and floral motifs in colors like “water-dripping wall” and “jade green.”

The second courtyard is the central hall, three bays wide and three bays deep, with three levels of steps. The steps are flanked by white granite railings that serve as screens, with four panels on each side. Each panel measures 0.8 meters in length and 0.6 meters in width, and is carved with hidden Eight Treasures motifs from the Journey to the West story, such as vases, gourds, and jade tablets, all in an ancient and vigorous style. In the center of the hall hangs a wooden plaque inscribed with “Yuanqi Hall.”

The third courtyard is the ancestral hall, three bays deep, with a flush gable roof and four side corridors on each side. The two stone pillars inside the hall are made of duck droppings stone, in the style of the Qianlong period, and are robust and majestic. In the center is an altar table, upon which the memorial tablets of the ancestors of the Wang clan are enshrined.

The “Shangshu Wang Public Temple” is a rare ancestral hall in China that uses an official title instead of a personal name. The temple houses exquisite stone carvings, lime carvings, brick carvings, and wood carvings. The gray tubular tiles on the roof and the roof tiles stamped with auspicious patterns such as “Gold and Jade Fill the Hall” and “Longevity” are all originals. The four sturdy granite stone pillars at the front platform, along with the dougong brackets, carved ridge decorations, and the Shiwan ceramic window panels on the corridor walls, are all typical originals from the Qing Dynasty. This solemn and majestic ancient Lingnan building embodies the indomitable and unyielding national spirit of the Chinese people, shines with the loyalty and wisdom of the people of Lingnan, and records the history of continuous resistance by the people of Guangzhou.

Wang Daofu (1235–1279), styled Yixing and also known as Jianlei, was a native of Chebei Township, Dongpu, Panyu County (today’s Chebei Village, Chebei Street, Tianhe District), with ancestral roots in Taiyuan, Shanxi, although some say his original hometown was Putian, Fujian.

Wang Daofu was born in the second year of the Duanping era of the Southern Song’s Emperor Lizong (1235 AD) into a scholarly family. Born in turbulent times, his parents had great expectations for him, hoping he would grow up to serve the nation. His name, Daofu, signifies “following the right path and serving the country with loyalty,” while his courtesy name, Jianlei, reflects a decisive and vigorous character. As he grew up, Wang Daofu became exceptionally intelligent, passing the local examination to become a scholar. He then took the provincial examination... More details about Wang Daofu++

Chebei Subdistrict: The Chebei Subdistrict Office was established in 1981. Located to the east of Tianhe District, its jurisdiction spans across Zhongshan Avenue and Huangpu Avenue, bordered by Donghuan Expressway to the east, Chebei Road to the west, the Pearl River to the south, and Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway to the north. The total administrative area of the subdistrict is 5.6 square kilometers, with a total population of approximately 76,000 (including about 25,000 registered residents and about 51,000 migrant residents). It governs Chebei Economic Development Co., Ltd. (formerly Chebei Village) and 11 community neighborhood committees.

Transportation within the subdistrict is convenient, with major thoroughfares including Zhongshan Avenue and Huangpu Avenue... More details about Chebei Subdistrict++