Yue Fei Temple in Jingjiang

　　The Yue Fei Temple in Jingjiang was originally built as a memorial shrine during Yue Fei’s lifetime. The well-known Yue Fei Temples in his hometown of Tangyin, Henan, and by West Lake in Hangzhou were all constructed after his death. Therefore, the Yue Fei Temple in Jingjiang is likely the oldest such temple in the world.

　　The Temple of Yue Wang features a central hall called the Siyue Hall, built in the Song architectural style—stately and solemn. The couplet inscribed on the pillars reads: “Thirty years of fame are but dust and earth; Eight thousand li of journeys are under clouds and moon.” The calligraphy is elegant and graceful. In the center of the hall stands a seated statue of Yue Fei, wearing a red-tasseled commander’s helmet, a purple imperial robe, golden armor visible on his arms, and military boots on his feet. His expression is heroic and solemn—as if deep in thought on the eve of a decisive battle or anxiously pondering the people’s welfare after an inspection tour. He feels remarkably lifelike and approachable. On both sides are standing statues of Yue Fei’s eight generals, all vividly portrayed. The rear hall is the Siyue Pavilion, where a stele with Yue Fei’s statue is enshrined. Poems by Li Gang and Han Shizhong are inlaid on the outer walls. Corridors encircle the two halls, inlaid with stone tablets of ci poetry, poems, and Yue Fei’s handwritten “First Memorial on Dispatching Troops.”

　　According to the “History of the Song Dynasty”: “An edict ordered Yue Fei to defend Tong and Tai. The directive allowed him to hold the position if possible, or otherwise just protect the people on the sandbars and wait for an opportunity to strike. Yue Fei considered Tai to have no defensible terrain, so he retreated to Chai Xu, fought at Nan Ba Bridge, and decisively defeated the Jin army. He ferried the civilians to safety on the sandbars, and Yue Fei himself led two hundred elite cavalry to cover the rear—the Jin troops dared not approach.” Tong refers to Nantong; Tai refers to Taizhou; sandbars and sand refer to Matuosha; and the civilians were refugees from the Jianghuai region. These refugees are the ancestors of many current residents of Jingjiang.

　　As for folklore, the story is even more moving. It is said that Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhao Gou, and Prime Minister Qin Hui colluded to seek peace with the Jin army. They viewed the loyal and patriotic Yue Fei as a thorn in their side. One day, they sent him twelve urgent imperial edicts recalling him to the capital (Hangzhou). The Central Plains civilians were reluctant to let him go, fearing the Jin army would invade again and plunge them back into misery. They wanted to follow Yue Fei when he left. Yue Fei, who loved the people as his own children, could not bear to refuse. So he took the refugees with him southward. When they finally arrived at Matuosha by the Yangtze River after a long journey, Yue Fei could not sleep all night. He got up, walked out of his tent, and surveyed the surroundings under the cold moonlight. He saw that this place was bordered by the river and sea, connecting Yue and Wu, truly a strategic location. Though overgrown with wild grass, it had mountains and water, suitable for growing grain and mulberry—clearly a pearl cradled by the great river. Overjoyed, he didn’t even notice the morning dew soaking his beard and eyebrows.

　　The next day, Yue Fei gathered the people and said: “Do not follow me across the river. Make this place your home and earn your livelihood here. Though it may look desolate now, it will surely become a land of fish and rice in the future. I wish for this place to be free of floods for 800 years, free of droughts for 800 years, and free of wars for 800 years.” How could the people not heed the words of Marshal Yue? From then on, they settled here, building homes and raising families. After Yue Fei left, the people, filled with gratitude, wished for his longevity and built a shrine in his honor. This place later became a town, known as Shengci Tang or Shengci Town.

　　Though the legend does not entirely align with historical facts, it captures the spirit of the events. Both history and legend show that Jingjiang shares an inseparable bond with Yue Fei. And through the centuries, the repeated reconstructions of the Yue Fei Temple reflect our ancestors’ enduring gratitude for his benevolence—flowing ceaselessly like the Yangtze River.

　　The current Yue Fei Temple is the third reconstruction, all funded by Liu Guojun. The first reconstruction was in 1932, but unfortunately, it was destroyed by Japanese artillery fire in 1938. In 1962, Liu Guojun returned to his hometown to pay respects to the ruins of the Yue Fei Temple and proposed rebuilding it. He also decided to move the temple site from beside Siyue Bridge in the east of town to its current location. However, the rebuilding faced great challenges. In the spring of 1978, in his twilight years, the elderly Liu Guojun told his children on his deathbed: “You must restore the Yue Fei Temple in our hometown!” His children, Liu Handong and Liu Biru, followed his wishes and donated funds to rebuild the temple for the third time in 1985.