Minyue Guild Hall

　　Minyue Guild Hall — also known as Tianhou Palace. It was first built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties by an elderly man surnamed Xue, who had no descendants despite years of doing business here. He spent several thousand taels of silver to build it entirely on his own. It has now stood for over 300 years. The guild hall was constructed following the style of Tianhou Palaces in Zhangzhou, Fujian. It faces east, with the main hall to the west, the front hall to the east, and side chambers on the north and south. In the center of the main hall stands a statue of Mazu, dedicated for worship and offerings by merchants traveling from the north and south. The front hall is integrated with the main hall, creating a grand and imposing structure. The guild hall features high walls and blue tiles, adorned with simple yet exquisite painted murals, making it one of the largest Mazu temples in the Lingnan region.

　　There are two couplets in the Minyue Guild Hall: The first couplet: “浩浩其天 盛德在水” (Vast as the sky, its great virtue lies in the water) “明明我后 正位乎坤” (Bright is our sovereign, rightly enthroned in the earth) Horizontal inscription: “Minyue as One Family.” The fourth characters of the upper and lower lines combine to form the name “Tianhou” (Heavenly Empress). Her noble virtue and boundless wisdom protect the Fujianese living far from home. “浩浩” (vast/huge) implies boundlessness, like the sky, and “盛德、大德” (great virtue) refers to her moral grandeur. “在水” (in the water) indicates that Tianhou is the goddess who protects seafarers, signifying that her great grace comes from her. The first “明” (bright) in “明明” means clear-sighted or discerning, while the second “明” refers to a person of virtue — in this case, the goddess Tianhou. “正位” (rightful position) actually refers to the exalted status that Tianhou holds in the hearts of the Fujianese people. The entire couplet conveys that the wisdom and noble virtues of the Tianhou goddess occupy an infinitely lofty place in the hearts of the Fujianese. The horizontal inscription “Minyue as One Family” does not refer to both Fujian and Guangdong, but specifically to the Fujianese. “闽粤” (Minyue), also called “闽越” (Minyue), was the name of an ancient kingdom. Anciently, the people of Min (Fujian), located in the southern parts of present-day Fujian and Zhejiang, were divided into seven clans, hence called “七闽” (Seven Mins). “闽粤”, “七闽”, and “闽” all refer solely to Fujian. “Minyue as One Family” essentially means that fellow Fujianese are one family. The second couplet: “天恩垂四海，后德本三山。” (Heaven’s grace extends to the four seas; the Empress’s virtue originates from the Three Mountains.) The first characters of the upper and lower lines form the phrase “Tianhou” (Heavenly Empress), and the second characters form “恩德” (grace and virtue). “垂” (chuí) means to descend or spread, and “本” (běn) means the root or origin. “四海” (sìhǎi), in ancient belief, referred to the lands surrounded by seas — thus, China was called “the land within the seas” (四海之内). What are the “Three Mountains”? Because Fujian has three great mountains — Xianshan (仙山, Immortal Mountain), Mingshan (闽山, Fujian Mountain), and Yuwangshan (越王山, King Yue Mountain) — it is also called the land of the Three Mountains. This couplet means: the roots of Tianhou’s grace come from Fujian, and her virtue spreads throughout China.

　　The second couplet is: “Heaven’s grace extends to the four seas, the Empress’s virtue originates from the Three Mountains.” The first characters of the upper and lower lines combine to form “Tianhou,” and the second characters form “En and De” (Grace and Virtue). “垂” means to be passed down or spread, and “本” means the root or essence. “四海” refers to the surrounding seas — in ancient times, China was seen as being surrounded by oceans, thus called the “land within the four seas.” What are the “Three Mountains”? Fujian is home to three major mountains: Xianshan, Mingshan, and Yuwangshan, which is why Fujian is also known as the land of the Three Mountains. This couplet means: Tianhou’s grace originates from Fujian and spreads across the whole of China.

　　The main function of the guild hall was to serve as a hub for the local chamber of commerce and commercial trade. With a symmetrical layout, front-back harmony, and a grand atmosphere, it embodies a profound historical and commercial cultural heritage. It has now been listed as a key cultural relic protection unit in Guangxi.

　　In 1996, due to a once-in-a-century catastrophic flood, the main hall of the guild hall collapsed. Today, only the front hall and the left and right side chambers remain. The former grandeur and prosperity of the Minyue Guild Hall have become history, leaving behind only fragmented relics and boundless solitude and desolation. If a visionary with substantial financial resources is willing to contribute their heart and effort to rebuilding Tianhou Palace, the ancient town of Danzhou will once again shine as a historic highlight.

　　Source: Tourism Bureau of Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County