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Brief information on Wuhou Memorial Temple

Brief information on Wuhou Memorial Temple

Write: Shamita [2011-05-23]
Located in Wuhou Street, at the South gate of Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, Wuhou Memorial Temple is a shrine integrated with tombs of Liu Bei, the King of Shu during the Three Kingdom period in Chinese history, and Zhuge Liang, a great prime minister of the Shu Dynasty. It is the only temple with the Emperor s tomb and his officials tomb integrated together. The temple was built during the Tang Dynasty, and neighbours the Zhaolie Temple, the temple of Liu Bei. When it was rebuilt in the first year of the Ming Dynasty, Wuhou Temple was combined with Zhaolie Temple, which gave birth to the Wuhou Temple. The temple was then rebuilt in the year of 1672 during the Qing Dynasty. In 1984, a museum was built on the base of the temple with an area of 140,000 square meters (about 35 acres), and is the most influential relics of Three Kingdoms in China.
The Wuhou Temple faces south, and its primary gate, secondary gate, the Zhaolie Temple and the halls are all strictly situated on the middle axis from south to north. Between the primary gate and the secondary gate, there are six steles scattered in the verdant bushes, which were made during the Ming Dynasty. The inscription on the stele records the accomplishments and merits of Zhuge Liang. Among them, there is a stele called Sanjue Stele (Three Greatness Stele), which boasts excellent text, calligraphy and carving workmanship. Amongst these, Liu Bei Hall is the most high and magnificently decorated, and is situated behind the secondary gate with Liu Bei s statue in the centre. And stepping out of the Hall, you will see the Wuhou Hall, situated lower down than the Liu Bei Hall. This indicates the different classese of the emperor as opposed to his officials. There is also Zhuge Liang s statue sitting in the centre with many texts surrounding him, written to speak highly of his accomplishments and merits.