The Wuhou Memorial Temple, dedicated to Marquis Wu in Chengdu ranks as the most renowned and visited of the many shrines devoted to Zhuge Liang, one of China’s most admired historical personalities. This individual was a powerful minister and a renowned military tactician for the Emperor Liu Bei of the renowned Shu kingdom in China’s volatile Three Kingdoms period. Notably the memorial shrine is also dedicated to the monarch Emperor Liu Bei.
The temple was actually constructed much later during the reign of the Qing Dynasty. The shrine derives its name from the fact that Zhuge Liang was conferred the title of ‘Wuxiang Hou’ or Marquis Wuxiang in recognition of his achievements. Inside the temple compound you will see a number of statues of the Emperor, Zhuge Liang and several Shu Kingdom officials. You will also find some very highly regarded tablets and ancient engravings. This historically renowned temple is ranked amongst Chengdu’s foremost visitor attractions.
The temple complex is significant architecturally and inherits a rich historical legacy. The principal structure of the building is dignified and deceptively simple in appearance. It is seen to be subdivided into five principal sections, each of which is of cultural merit.
Perhaps the most distinctive of the temple’s attractions is the numerous engraved stone tablets that it contains. In fact many of the poems and sayings inscribed on these are popularly known and widely recognized. Of these the best known and most highly regarded is the Tablet of Triple Success, which measures no less than 144 inches in height and 37 inches in width. It earns its name from the fact that it is the work of three individuals; the text was written by an eminent official called Pei Du, stylized by one of the finest calligraphers, Liu Gongchuo and then inscribed into the tablet by a famed engraver, Lu Jian.
With so much to see and admire a visit to the Wuhou Memorial Temple will never be disappointing and you are bound to get a unique insight into the country’s rich cultural heritage.
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Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.
