Temple of Marquis Huan

　　The Temple of Marquis Huan is located at the intersection of Zhonghua Road in downtown Zigong. Commonly known as Zhangye Temple or Temple of Zhang Fei, it is built along the street and situated on the edge of a small hillside road. As a result, visitors must climb uphill to enter, looking up in reverence. Moreover, the carved image of Zhang Fei on the gate plank—his hair bristling, brows furrowed, and posture heroic—commands deep respect.

　　The Temple of Marquis Huan was originally built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. It was burned down in the late Xianfeng period, rebuilt during the Tongzhi era, and funded through a collective agreement among industry peers: “For every pig slaughtered, two hundred cash would be collected per guild regulations.” Through the painstaking accumulation of funds, it was finally completed in the first year of the Guangxu reign (1875).

　　The gateway building features a single-slope mountain gate structure. The steep, upright gateway is brought to life by its three-tiered, upturned eaves and hip-and-gable curved firewall, giving it a dynamic feel. The addition of carvings and painted decorations makes the entrance lively yet not rigid. The central plaque under the eaves bears the name “Temple of Marquis Huan,” while a couplet engraved on the stone plaques on either side of the gate reads: “Loyal duty recognized between ruler and minister; in those years, battling north and east, their hearts fulfilled the Peach Garden Oath. Great achievements honored with temple worship; today, though winds may fade and people dwell, the legacy remains with inscriptions on the ancient cauldron.”

　　Above the entrance hall lies the theater stage, flanked by two-story corridor balconies. Ascending the steps from the courtyard leads to the main hall. This five-bay hall features a post-and-lintel wooden structure. The front section serves as an audience stand for watching performances and enjoying the view, while the rear was once the sacred area where the spirit tablet of Zhang Fei was enshrined. Though no statues or incense smoke now fill the space, it still exudes a sense of mystery and solemnity.

　　The Temple of Marquis Huan is a closed-loop, circular building. Since the entire structure is built on a slope, visitors must ascend steps through gates and corridors, creating a feeling of climbing ever upward. Despite its compact floor area of just over 1,300 square meters, the architects skillfully arranged numerous individual structures within this limited space without any sense of crowding or clutter, showcasing remarkable ingenuity and architectural expertise. The theater stage, bell tower, and drum pavilion all feature xieshan-style hipped gables with curved eaves—a rare roof style in traditional folk architecture, especially in southern regions like Zigong—thus presenting a distinctive and majestic appearance.

　　The decoration of the Temple of Marquis Huan is particularly exquisite. Parts of the roof and roofline are adorned with clay sculptures and shallow reliefs, painted in vibrant colors, and embellished with porcelain pieces that are crystal-clear and stunningly beautiful. The stage edge is fitted with carved wooden railings, and the column bases are made of engraved stone. The several-meter-long railing boards feature 18 carved theatrical scenes, depicting as many as 184 figures alone, along with numerous Beijing-style ornaments. These carvings are finely crafted, with lifelike representations of both objects and figures.

　　The Temple of Marquis Huan served both as a guild hall where the butchering and meat-selling trades worshipped and paid tribute to their deities, and as a venue for safeguarding their interests and making major decisions.