Historical Relics of White Emperor City

Historical Relics of White Emperor City - White Emperor Temple

White Emperor Temple includes the Mingliang Hall, Wuhou Shrine, Observing Star Pavilion and some other Ming and Qing Dynasties buildings. Mingliang Hall, as the main building of White Emperor Temple, sacrificed the statues of Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. The statues of Zhuge Liang, his son and grandson were located in Wuhou Shrine. Observing Star Pavilion was said the place where Zhuge Liang observed the starlike image in the night. There are some steles of every dynasty on the two sides of Mingliang Hall and Wuhou Shrine

Historical Relics of White Emperor City - Entrusting Son's Hall (Tuogu Tang)

There is a scene in The Romance of the Three Kingdoms about Liu Bei entrusted his son to his Prime Minister Zhuge Liang: In the Three Kingdoms Period (220 - 280), the king of the Shu Kingdom, Liu Bei, failed in the battle with the Wu Kingdom at White Emperor City. He became ill and entrusted his son to his prime minister, Zhuge Liang before closing his eyes. Now, the hall exhibits the statues which depict the scene of Liu Bei entrusting his son to Zhuge Liang.

Historical Relics of White Emperor City - Mingliang Hall

Mingliang Hall was built in 1523.The color statues of Liu Bei, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu was sited in the hall. Mingliang Hall was first built by the people in White Emperor City to commemorate Gongsun Shu. In Ming Dynasty, the statue of Gongsun Shu was replaced by the Statue of Liu Bei. And the Statues of Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhuge Liang also placed in the hall.

In the culture revolution period, the Statues of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhuge Liang were damage. But the statues of four eunuchs well preserved for they are exploited class. After the culture revolution, the hall was repaired. Now, you can see the statues of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhuge Liang without necks.

Historical Relics of White Emperor City – Wuhou Shrine

Wuhou Shrine suited at the west of Mingliang Hall. This Shrine used to sacrifice Zhuge Liang, his son and grandson. It is recorded that the son and grandson of Zhuge Liang were also great minister and made many benefits to the people in Shu Kingdom.

Zhuge Liang was the actual leader of Shu Kingdom after the death of Liu Bei. He was conferred as Wuxiang marquis.

Historical Relics of White Emperor City – Observing Star Pavilion (Guanxing Ting)

Observing Star pavilion is located in front of Wuhou Shrine. Observing Star Pavilion is the place where Zhuge Liang observed the stars and developed the tactic of using arms. There is a large bronze bell hanging in the upper storey.

Historical Relics of White Emperor City – Forest of Steles

The east and west Forest of Steles separately located on the side of Mingliang Hall and Wuhou shrine. There assembled about 70 steles from Sui Dynasty to Qing Dynasty in different styles and they are competitive products in Chinese calligraphy. The most famous two steles are over 1300 years old.