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Posted on 2024-11-24 14:37

Beijing's autumn season not only has delightful natural scenery, but also pleasing humanistic landscapes with unique cultural heritage. For example, in the Fuchengmen inner street in Xicheng District, Beijing, there is a temple of the emperors and kings in my opinion there are a few mysterious, although many times from the door in front of it, but never went in, so the heart has always left a little expectation, thinking that one day can go in to look around.

Autumn Scenery in Beijing (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

November 20, 2024, Beijing ushered in another sunny, autumn weather, the reporter decided to go to this convergence of the Ming and Qing dynasties to worship the emperors and famous generals of the royal temples to have a look. Before going to the online strategy, learned that the temple was built in the Ming Jiajing nine years, the original site for the security temple, the Ming Jiajing emperor terminated the successive emperors from the southern suburb of the old system, the site selected to build a new temple in this.

The head of the temple of successive emperors (Photo: Jue Wang)

In the early years of Shunzhi, Emperor Shizu of the Qing Dynasty rebuilt and expanded the temple on the basis of the Ming Temple, then Kangxi reformed the rituals, Yongzheng seven years of reconstruction and built the Imperial Monument Pavilion, and increased the number of emperors enshrined at the time of the Qianlong Dynasty, which eventually amounted to 188. Republic of China period ritual activities stopped, has been used by the Chinese Education Improvement Society, etc.; 2004 repair and open, set up as a museum in 2007.

Walking into the temple of successive emperors (Photo: Jue Wang)

Walking into the temple of successive emperors and kings, you can only see the red walls and yellow tiles and grandeur in your vision, as if you can feel the heaviness of history and the majesty of the royal family. Here covers an area of 21,500 square meters, construction area of 6,000 square meters, sitting in the north to the south, with a central axis arranged in depth, there are shadow wall, temple door, Jingde Gate, Jingde Chongsheng Hall, sacrificial vessels library, etc., on both sides of the breakdown of the ancillary halls, stele Pavilion and so on.

Jingde Gate (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The temple gate of the temple of the successive emperors was built in the ninth year of Jiajing, with a single-eaved hermetic roof, green glazed tiles with green shearing edges, eight red walls and side gates on both sides, and three white jade stone bridges in front of it. Into the temple door, directly in front of the Jingde Gate was built in the Ming Dynasty Jiajing nine years, the door of the single-eaved hermit roof, green glazed tiles green shear edge, surrounded by alabaster stone railing, before and after the three out of the ah, the middle of the cloud mountain pattern Royal Road.

Jingde Chongsheng Hall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

After passing through the Jingde Gate, facing you is the main building of the temple of successive emperors: Jingde Zongsheng Hall. In Jingde Chongsheng Hall on both sides of the East and West Pavilion in the dragon pedestal monument, the monument on the front of the relief of the dragon is exceptionally powerful, the pedestal is unique, delicate carving, the surrounding seawater river cliffs stone carving of the ground, etc., show the highest level of royal grandeur.

Southeast Stele Pavilion (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

Coming to Jingde Chongsheng Hall to look around, this hall, which was built in the ninth year of Jiajing of Ming Dynasty (1530), is one of the outstanding representatives of ancient Chinese royal ceremonial architecture.

Dragon Pedestal (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

The Jingde Chongsheng Hall is located in the north and faces south, with a width of nine rooms (51 meters) and a depth of five rooms (27 meters), a heavy-eaved hipped roof, giltwood pillars, and plastered gold bricks on the ground, making it a royal building of the "Nine to Five". During the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty, it was overhauled and replaced with a yellow glazed tile roof and repainted with golden dragon paintings.

Jingde Chongsheng Hall outside the photo (Photo: passer-by)

The outer eaves of the hall are painted with golden dragons and seals, and a relief nine-dragon bucket plaque is hung. The first ranked of the architectural ridge beasts is the dragon, and the tile pattern is presented in the shape of a dragon.

Entering the Jingde Chongsheng Hall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Into the spectacular and magnificent Jingde Chongsheng Hall, only to see inside 60 equal height nanmu columns, retaining the Yongzheng period of gold sitting dragon smallpox color painting. Stroll inside the temple to look forward to, in front of the temple platform, east and west 27 meters, 15.5 meters north and south, east, south and west of the stone parapet, south of the three out of the ah, in the middle of the cloud mountain pattern Royal Road, east and west of each out of an ah.

A corner of the god of worship (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

Inside the hall are enshrined the tablets of the main worship of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors, 188 emperors and kings of the past dynasties. As well as Bo Yi, Jiang Shang, Xiao He, Zhuge Liang and other 79 generations of wise ministers and famous generals, reflecting the characteristics of the Chinese unity of the same lineage, is the development of China's united multi-ethnic state of the process of continuous historical testimony.

Corridor pillars in the hall (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

The name of Jingde Chongsheng Hall means "admiring virtue and honoring the sages". Its architecture, whether in the form, or in the columns, beams, tiles, color paintings and other objects, all show the dignity and grandeur of the Royal building, is the highest regulation. Only palaces, mausoleums and royal buildings can use this form.

Ancient Musical Instruments in the Palace (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

The overall architecture of the Jingde Chongsheng Hall appears dignified and solemn, lofty and solemn, with high aesthetic value. It is not only an important carrier of ancient Chinese royal sacrificial culture, but also a precious heritage of ancient Chinese architectural art.

A corner of the architectural landscape inside the hall (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

The architecture is a collection of the essence of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with a rich variety of monolithic building types, such as heavy-eaved hipped, hermit, hard mountain, etc., and retaining many precious components of the Ming Dynasty. Its sacrificial system embodies the historical characteristics of China's unified multi-ethnic state, and is a witness to the unity of the Chinese lineage, which allows people to understand the historical and cultural connotations through exhibitions and displays.

Contemplative Reverie in the Hall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

There are historical records, on the Jingde heavy holy temple, the Qing dynasty, Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong three generations of emperors attached particular importance to it. Kangxi reform ceremony, put forward "where ever reigning, in addition to no way, was killed, the Lord of the dead, should be all into the temple worship"; Yongzheng implementation of the wishes of Kangxi, repair the temple and personally book "Dynasties of the temple monument"; Qianlong many times in person, poems, writing tablets, increase the enshrinement of emperors, so that enshrinement of emperors finally reached 188.

A corner of the Temple of Sacrificial Vessel Treasury (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

Walking out of the Jingde Chongsheng Hall came to the last hall of the temple of the successive emperors: the sacrificial vessels storehouse. Here the original place to put the sacrificial objects, now inside the temple of the emperors of Beijing "look back - choice - the Ming and Qing emperors and the temple of the emperors of the past dynasties" thematic exhibition.

Looking Back-Choice Exhibition (Photo: Jue Wang)

Walking into the temple, you can see that through a series of colorful documents, the process and criteria of the Ming and Qing emperors for selecting emperors and ministers to be worshipped are shown in detail, and 188 emperors were finally selected to be worshipped in the temple, with the aim of "reporting merit and observing morality", highlighting the inheritance of merit and virtue of the successive emperors and refusing to sacrifice to those who were mediocre, chaotic and dead. The beginning and the end.

Entering the exhibition hall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Selection of Emperors to be Sacrificed: This exhibition shows how the Ming and Qing emperors selected from among the many ancient emperors, such as the Three Emperors and the Five Emperors, the emperors they considered meritorious and worthy of being sacrificed to, reflecting their respect for the ancient wise monarchs and recognition of their achievements.

Documents in the exhibition hall (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Sacrifice System and Ceremony: Through cultural relics, pictures and texts, the system of sacrificing successive emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties is presented, including the time of sacrifice, offerings and rituals, so that the audience can understand the solemnity and grandeur of the royal sacrifices of that time.

A corner of the ceiling in the exhibition hall (Photo: Jue Wang)

Famous Ministers from Sacrifices: Introducing the famous ministers related to the enshrined emperors, such as the 79 wise ministers and famous generals of the past dynasties such as Bo Yi, Jiang Shang, Xiao He, Zhuge Liang and so on in the East and West Halls, showing their contributions and status in history.

A corner of the exhibition hall (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

Viewing this exhibition helps people to understand the Ming and Qing royal sacrificial culture, recognize the ancient Chinese emperor inheritance system and the traditional concept of "unification", appreciate the Chinese unity of the lineage, the long history of the process, and perceive the Chinese nationalities inclusive, mutual assistance in the history of the origins of people, so that people can better understand the historical development and cultural relics. The story behind the cultural relics.

Guan Yu Culture Exhibition (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

Finally, coming to step into the West Crossing of Beijing's temples of successive emperors, there is a simple temple of Guan Di and a "Guan Yu Body, Head, Soul and Dignity Thematic Exhibition" is well worth a visit.

Guan Di Temple (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

Walking into the exhibition hall located in the compartmentalized hall of the Guan Di Temple, the space here is not big, but it is very delicately arranged. Inside the hall, the lighting is soft, creating a solemn atmosphere, so that the viewer seems to travel through time and space, back to the era of the Three Kingdoms, where heroes were born, and was able to experience the legendary life of Guan Yu up close and personal.

Statue of Guan Yu (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

Looking at the exhibition, Guan Yu's life is described in detail through detailed written records and pictures. From the Peach Orchard, Warm Wine and Chopping Hua Xiong, Chopping Yan Liang and Executing Wen Chou, to the Five Passes and Six Generals, and the Single Sword to the Meeting, etc., the image of his bravery and fearlessness jumps out at you, fully demonstrating his loyalty and martial arts skill.

A corner of Guan Gong Cultural Exhibition (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

Head and body part: focusing on Guan Yu was beheaded by Wu after his defeat, his head was sent to Luoyang, Cao Cao was buried with the rites of a vassal, that is, today's Luoyang Guan Lin; and his body was buried by Sun Quan in Dangyang with the rites of a vassal, called Guan Mausoleum.

Ming Dynasty Guan Yu Tackling Generals (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

And the part of the soul returning to his hometown: it introduces Guan Yu's hometown of Xiezhou, Yuncheng, Shanxi Province, where his clothes mound was built. It is one of the birthplaces of Guan Yu culture, and people have been admiring and worshipping Guan Yu for a long time. By displaying pictures of the Guan Di Temple in Xiezhou and the related ritual activities, it reflects the high status of Guan Yu in the hearts of the people in his hometown, as well as the deep heritage of Guan Yu culture in the area.

Documents in the exhibition hall (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

The entire exhibition digs deep into the traditional Chinese cultural concepts of loyalty, righteousness, benevolence and courage represented by Guan Yu. These qualities are not only the spiritual symbols of Guan Yu, but also the moral code and pursuit of values inherited by the Chinese nation for thousands of years, which inspired countless Chinese children to stand firm on justice and loyalty to the patriotism in different historical periods.

Portrait of Guan Yu Cao Cao in the Ming Dynasty (Photo: Feng Gan Yong)

Viewing this exhibition makes the image of Guan Yu more three-dimensional and fuller in people's minds. His story is not only a historical legend, but also a cultural inheritance and spiritual support. All in all, visiting the temples of Beijing's emperors and kings is really a wonderful journey to learn more about traditional Chinese culture. (Graphic: Feng Ganyong)