Guyuan Guan Di Temple

　　    Introduction      Guyuan Guan Di Temple is commonly known as “Lao Ye Miao” (Temple of the Lord). It is situated outside the north gate of Guyuan city, along the major north-south thoroughfare that runs through the city. On the west side of the road is the temple’s entrance gate and courtyard, while on the east side stands the grand opera stage of Guan Di Temple. The main north-south roadway passes between them.

　　    The temple courtyard alone covers an area of eight acres, not including the opera stage on the east side of the road. The temple has numerous devotees and thrives in incense offerings. Twice a year, on the 13th day of the fifth and ninth lunar months, temple fairs are held. During these events, operas are performed for three to five days, and merchants from the city set up stalls along both sides of the northern gate road to trade and sell goods. On fair days, the stage entrance in front of the temple gate is adorned with lanterns and decorative banners, and triangular-patterned dragon flags flutter atop iron flagpoles, creating a festive atmosphere.

　　    On regular days, the Guan Di Temple also sees a constant flow of worshippers and visitors. Local people hold many superstitions—for example, when a child is born, they are brought to the temple to burn incense and joss paper. After devout prayers, the infant is passed under the belly of Guan Yu’s deep red steed, a ritual called “passing the gate” (过关), believed to bring good fortune and safety. It is said this practice can ward off illness and evil, ensuring the child grows up healthy and strong.

　　 Ningxia Guyuan City

　　Guan Yu (162～220)　　Guan Yu (162?–220), of Han ethnicity, was born during the Yanxi era of Emperor Huan of the Eastern Han Dynasty. His courtesy name was Yunchang, originally Changsheng. He was a native of Jieliang in Hedong (present-day Yuncheng, Shanxi Province). A famous general of the Shu Han kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period, he served as General of the Vanguard, was titled Marquis of Hanshou Ting, and was a renowned military strategist. After his death, he was widely revered by the people, further honored by successive dynasties, and worshipped as Guan Sheng Di Jun (the Divine Lord Guan). In Buddhism, he is known as Sangharama Bodhisattva and respectfully called “Guan Gong.” Later rulers revered Guan Yu as the “Martial Saint,” placing him on par with Confucius, the “Civil Saint.” Following Liu Bei Guan Yu’s original courtesy name was Changsheng, later changed to Yunchang. In his early years, after being involved in some trouble, he fled his hometown for Zhuojun in Youzhou (present-day Zhuozhou, Hebei Province). In the first year of the Zhongping era... Details+