Liuzi Temple

Liuzi Temple (simplified Chinese: 柳子庙; traditional Chinese: 柳子廟; pinyin: Liŭzǐmiào) is a monument built to honor Liu Zongyuan, a Chinese writer and poet who had lived here for 10 years during the Tang dynasty (618–907).[1][2][3][4][5] The temple covers an area of more than 2,000-square-metre (22,000 sq ft) and made of wood and bricks.[6]

Liuzi Temple
柳子庙
The entrance.
Religion
SectConfucianism
Location
LocationLingling District, Yongzhou, Hunan
CountryChina
Shown within Hunan
Liuzi Temple (China)
Geographic coordinates26°13′25.5792″N 111°36′53.5392″E
Architecture
Date establishedAD 1056

History

Located in Liuzi Street of Yongzhou, Hunan, beside Yu Stream (愚溪), Liuzi Temple is a Confucian temple with a history of nearly a thousand years and was first built as Liu Zihou Ancestral Temple (柳子厚祠堂) in the 3rd Year of Period Zhihe, namely AD 1056, in the reign of Emperor Renzong in the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127).[6][7]

Liuzi Temple was reconstruction in the 14th Year of Period Shixing (1144) in the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279).

In the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), Liuzi Temple was twice repaired in the 8th Year of Zhengde Emperor of (1513) and the 25th Year of Jiajing Emperor (1546) respectively.[6]

Liuzi Temple was lately repaired on a large scale in the 3rd Year of Guangxu Emperor (1877) of Qing dynasty (1644–1911).

In 1957, it has been designated as a provincial level key cultural heritage. In 1963, Tao Zhu, secretary of Bureau of the Central Southern China of the Communist Party of China, visited the temple and gave an instruction to protect the temple. He said: "(We) should strengthen attention and protection of the Liuzi Temple, (we) need to raise funds to restored the Liuzi Temple as soon as possible" (要加强对柳子庙的重视和保护，筹集资金尽快加速对柳子庙的重修工作。). On June 25, 2001, it has been listed among the fifth group of "State Cultural Protection Relics Units" by the State Council of China.[6]

Architecture
Gate of Liuzi Temple.

Liuzi Temple has three halls: the main hall (the front hall), the middle hall and the back hall.

Gate and stage

The gate built in a row with a big one in the middle and two small ones on two sides, just like the shanmen in Han Chinese Buddhist Temples. On both sides of the main entrance there are two Chinese guardian lions. A couplet hanging on the two sides of the doorway, it reads "山水来归，黄蕉丹荔；春秋报事，福我寿民。" in Chinese. The couplet was written by magistrate of Yongzhou Yang Han (杨翰) in the Period of Tongzhi Emperor of Qing Dynasty. A double eaves and eight columns stage behind the main hall, which used for worshiping Liu Zongyuan. The stage was renovated in 1957. A plaque which was written by He Shaoji on the stage. It reads "山水绿" (means "green landscape") in Chinese.[6]

Cultural relics

Liuzi Temple has many Steles, such as Lizi Stele (荔子碑), Song of Catching Snakes (捕蛇歌), and Looking for Yu Stream and Visiting Liuzi Temple (寻愚溪谒柳子庙).

Lizi Stele

The Lizi Stele, also known as Sanjue Stele (三绝碑; Sanjue, means "three wonders"). Its article content was written by Han Yu and was in Su Shi's handwriting. The Lizi Stele originally collected in Liuhou Ancestral Temple (柳侯祠), Liuzhou. Liu Keqin (刘克勤), a local official copied by carving and later was destroyed during wars. The modern stele was carved in the 7th Year of Tongzhi Emperor (1868) of Qing Dynasty.[6]

References
  1. 华文媒体采访团走进永州柳子庙 追寻柳宗元足迹. sohu (in Chinese). 2013-07-10.
  2. 永州柳子庙修缮将收尾五一有望开放. sina (in Chinese). 2015-04-29.
  3. 永州零陵区委书记严兴德调研柳子庙修缮工程(组图). 163.com (in Chinese). 2015-05-04.
  4. Yaohong, Huang (2015-04-08). 为山水立心——谒柳子庙. ifeng (in Chinese).
  5. 图：百余名中外文人湖南柳子庙公祭柳宗元. 163.com (in Chinese). 2010-10-02.
  6. Peng Wei (2016-11-15). 首届湖南文物解读大赛 千年斯文第，绝贯古今人. rednet.cn (in Chinese).
  7. "30 historic and cultural neighborhoods to visit in China". Chinadaily. 2015-08-06.
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