Temple of Marquis Wu [武侯祠]
Chengdu, Sichuan, PRC
Jun 2, 2004


from http://www.westtour.net/english/sc/you/whc.htm

The Temple of Marquis Wu is situated in the southern part of Chengdu[成都]. It was built by Li Xiong of the Western Jin dynasty (265-316) in memory of Zhuge Liang [诸葛亮](181-234), prime minister of the Shu Kingdom (220-263). He was also known as Marquis Wu and renowned for his wisdom and dedication to duty. During the early Ming dynasty (1368-1644), the shrine was merged with the Temple of Liu Bei[刘备](161-223), but the name of the shrine has remained the same. Renovations took place during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) and buildings include Liu Bei Hall and Zhuge Liang Hall.

In the shrine there are 47 historic figures and sculptures of the Shu Kingdom, some 40 steel and stone tablets, more than 30 plaques and dozens of ancient tripods, incense burners, bells, drums and other relics

map of the Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei Temples. 杜甫诗云:“忆昨路绕锦亭东,先主武侯同宓宫。” entrance to Marquis Wu's temple; 杜工部有诗曰:“丞相祠堂何处寻,锦官城外柏森森。” “诸葛大名垂宇宙,宗臣遗像肃清高。” (杜甫) Zhuge Shang [诸葛尚],grandson of Zhuge Liang who fought to death against the invading troops from the Wei Kindom. sculpture of Zhuge Liang; “三分割据纡筹策,万古云霄一羽毛。” 又 “出师未捷身先死,长使英雄泪满襟。” (杜甫)

Zhuge Zhan [诸葛瞻],son of Zhuge Liang who died in the same battle with his son Zhuge Shang in defending the Shu Kindom.

“三顾频繁天下计,两朝开济老臣心。” 又 “功盖三分国,名成八阵图。 江流石不转,遗恨失吞吴。” (杜甫) part 2 of Zhuge Liang's famous article on waging a war against the Wei Kindom (caligraphy of general Yue Fei[岳飞] in the Southern Song Dynasty). part 1 of the article; “空余门下三千客,辜负胸中百万兵。” (杜甫) “管乐有才真不忝,关张无命欲何如?”(李商隐) "Stratagem of an Empty City" by which Zhuge Liang deceived the Wei general Sima Yi [司马懿](179-251) into withdrawing his 100,000 troops in front of a defenseless city.

House for Listening to the Orioles, named after a line by the Tang poet Du Fu (712-770): “映阶碧草自春色,隔叶黄鹂空好音。” (杜甫) “孔明庙前有老柏,柯如青铜根如石。 霜皮溜雨四十围,黛色参天二千尺。” 又 “遗庙丹青落,空山草木长。 犹闻辞后主,不复卧南阳。”(杜甫)

 
Liu Bei [刘备](161-223), emperor of the Shu Kindom (214-264); “天地英雄气,千秋尚凛然。 势分三足鼎,业复五铢钱。” (刘禹锡)

Guan Yu [关羽](162-219), Liu Bei's sworn brother and general, with his broadsword; “神威能奋武,儒雅更知文。 天日心如镜,春秋义薄云。”(《三国演义》) Zhang Fei [张飞](168-221), Liu Bei's another sworn brother and general; “虎牢关上声先震,长坂桥边水逆流。 义释严颜安蜀境,智欺张合定中州。”(《三国演义》) Zhao Yun [赵云](?-229), general; “血染征袍透甲红, 当阳谁敢与争锋!古来冲阵扶危主,只有常山赵子龙。” (《三国演义》) Ma Chao [马超](176-222), general; “潼关战败望风逃,孟德仓皇脱锦袍。 剑割髭髯应丧胆,马超身价盖天高。”(《三国演义》) Huang Zhong [黄忠](?-222), general; “老将说黄忠,收川立大功。 重披金梭甲,双挽铁胎弓。 胆气惊河北,威名镇蜀中。 临亡头似雪,犹自显英雄。” (《三国演义》)

Jiang Wei [姜维](202-264), Zhuge Liang's pupil and general-in-chief of the Shu Kingdom after his death; “天水夸英俊,凉州产异才。 系从尚父出,术奉武侯来。” (《三国演义》)

Pang Tong [庞统](179-213), a strategic genius often compared to Zhuge Liang; “一龙并一凤,相将到蜀中。 才到半里路,凤死落坡东。 风送雨,雨随风,隆汉兴时蜀道通,蜀道通时只有龙。” (《三国演义》)

Jiang Wan [蒋琬], successor of Zhuge Liang as the prime minister of the Shu Kindom

Fei Yi [费祎],successor of Jiang Wan Mausoleum of Emperor Liu Bei (only his clothings were buried here) tombstone
a vessel for joss sticks and candles in front of the tomb Liu Bei (center) and his sworn brothers Guan Yu (right) and Zhang Fei (left); 唐人吕温诗曰: “谁将一女轻天下,欲换刘郎鼎峙心?” 

temple dedicated to the sworn brotherhood of Liu, Guan, and Zhang; “滚滚长江东逝水,浪花淘尽英雄。 是非成败转头空: 青山依旧在,几度夕阳红。 白发渔樵江渚上,惯看秋月春风。 一壶浊酒喜相逢: 古今多少事,都付笑谈中。” (杨慎)

Liu, Guan, and Zhang fighting Lu Bu [吕布](?-198), one of the most famous warriors in the Three Kindoms era

story 1 about Zhang Fei story 1 about Guan Yu
story 2 about Guan Yu story 2 about Zhang Fei story 3 about Guan Yu story about Liu Bei story 4 about Guan Yu Huang Zhong ambushes Xiahou Yuan, a general of the Wei Kingdom

exhibition hall of cultural artifacts from the Three Kindoms era;

an army formation


performance of Sichuan opera


Yan-Bin Jia