Temple of Five Lords
Encyclopedia
The Temple of Five Lords is a memorial to five officials from the
Tang
and Song
dynasties located to the southeast of the city of Haikou
on the island of Hainan
, China. During the times of these dynasties, Hainan was perceived as a remote part of the empire and was used as a place for banishment for disgraced court officials. All five officials commemorated at the temple encountered such a fate, typically after losing power struggles within the imperial court.
Notable buildings of the temple complex are the Five Lords Ancestral Hall
proper , the Guanjia Hall , the Xuepu Hall , the East Hall and West Hall , the Sugong Ancestral Hall , the Ancestral Hall of the Two Fubo Generals , the Bai Pavilion , the Dongzhuo Pavilion , the Suquan Pavilion , the Xixin Hall , and the Youxian Cave .
In total, the temple complex covers an area of 2800 square meters.
The temple's main building is the Five Lords Ancestral Hall. It is a red two-story wooden structure that stands more than 9 m
meters tall and has a total floor space of 560 square meters
complex were erected during the reign of Wanli Emperor
(1572–1620) of
the Ming Dynasty
. The temple has undergone a major restoration during the reign of the Qing
emperor Guanggxu
(in 1889) followed by minor repairs that were carried out later.
The five officials commemorated in the temple are the Tang chancellor Li Deyu
, and the four Song ministers Li Gang , Li Guang , Zhao Ding , and Hu Quan . Each of the officials had been banished to Hainan Province after having fallen out of the court's favor and is now represented by a stone statue placed on the temple grounds.
The Ancestral Hall of the Two Fubo Generals is dedicated to the two generals Lu Bode
of the Western Han Dynasty and Ma Yuan of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Both generals played important roles in establishing Chinese rule over Hainan and were recognized by their emperors with the honorary title "Fubo General" for their achievements.
The Sugong Temple is located to the southeast of the Temple of Five Lords. It commemorates Su Shi
, a renowned poet and statesman of the Song Dynasty, who was also banished to Hainan.
The temple is located near the administrative border between the City of Haikou and Qiongshan District
, about 5 kilometers away from the city center of Haikou.
served as chancellor
during the Tang Dynasty. He was the leader and namesake of the Li faction during the Niu-Li Factional Struggles
that pitted officials of humble and aristocratic origins against each other. Tang Emperor Xuānzong
ended the struggles by handing complete defeat to the Li faction, demoting Li Deyu and sending him to exile in Hainan, where he held the position of census officer at Yai Prefecture (modern Haikou) and remained until his death.
. He was put in charge of the defense against the invading Jin Dynasty by the young Emperor Qinzong
, but was removed from his post when the emperor was falsely hoping to enter peace negotiations with the Jin. The Northern Song Dynasty fell in 1127 and Emperor Qinzong became a prisoner of the Jin Dynasty for the rest of his life. Li Gang was released from exile and rehabilitated in 1129 and held various government offices in the Southern Song Dynasty.
Tang
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
and Song
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
dynasties located to the southeast of the city of Haikou
Haikou
Hǎikǒu , is the capital and most populous city of Hainan Province, in the People's Republic of China. It is situated on the northern coast of Hainan, by the mouth of the Nandu River...
on the island of Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
, China. During the times of these dynasties, Hainan was perceived as a remote part of the empire and was used as a place for banishment for disgraced court officials. All five officials commemorated at the temple encountered such a fate, typically after losing power struggles within the imperial court.
Notable buildings of the temple complex are the Five Lords Ancestral Hall
Ancestral hall
An ancestral hall or lineage temple is a site of ancestor worship in Chinese culture. Ancestral halls are closely linked to Confucian culture and the emphasis that it places on filial piety....
proper , the Guanjia Hall , the Xuepu Hall , the East Hall and West Hall , the Sugong Ancestral Hall , the Ancestral Hall of the Two Fubo Generals , the Bai Pavilion , the Dongzhuo Pavilion , the Suquan Pavilion , the Xixin Hall , and the Youxian Cave .
In total, the temple complex covers an area of 2800 square meters.
The temple's main building is the Five Lords Ancestral Hall. It is a red two-story wooden structure that stands more than 9 m
meters tall and has a total floor space of 560 square meters
complex were erected during the reign of Wanli Emperor
Wanli Emperor
The Wanli Emperor was emperor of China between 1572 and 1620. His era name means "Ten thousand calendars". Born Zhu Yijun, he was the Longqing Emperor's third son...
(1572–1620) of
the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
. The temple has undergone a major restoration during the reign of the Qing
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
emperor Guanggxu
Guangxu Emperor
The Guangxu Emperor , born Zaitian of the Aisin-Gioro clan, was the eleventh emperor of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, under Empress Dowager Cixi's influence, only from 1889 to 1898...
(in 1889) followed by minor repairs that were carried out later.
The five officials commemorated in the temple are the Tang chancellor Li Deyu
Li Deyu
Li Deyu , courtesy name Wenrao , formally the Duke of Wei , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of brothers Emperor Wenzong and Emperor Wuzong and their uncle Emperor Xuānzong...
, and the four Song ministers Li Gang , Li Guang , Zhao Ding , and Hu Quan . Each of the officials had been banished to Hainan Province after having fallen out of the court's favor and is now represented by a stone statue placed on the temple grounds.
The Ancestral Hall of the Two Fubo Generals is dedicated to the two generals Lu Bode
Lu Bode
Lu Bode was a military leader during the Western Han Dynasty period of Chinese history.Originally from Pingzhou in the Xihe region of western China , in 119 BCE Emperor Wu of Han Lu Bode was a military leader during the Western Han Dynasty period of Chinese history.Originally from Pingzhou (平州)...
of the Western Han Dynasty and Ma Yuan of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Both generals played important roles in establishing Chinese rule over Hainan and were recognized by their emperors with the honorary title "Fubo General" for their achievements.
The Sugong Temple is located to the southeast of the Temple of Five Lords. It commemorates Su Shi
Su Shi
Su Shi , was a writer, poet, artist, calligrapher, pharmacologist, gastronome, and statesman of the Song Dynasty, and one of the major poets of the Song era. His courtesy name was Zizhan and his pseudonym was Dongpo Jushi , and he is often referred to as Su Dongpo...
, a renowned poet and statesman of the Song Dynasty, who was also banished to Hainan.
The temple is located near the administrative border between the City of Haikou and Qiongshan District
Qiongshan District
Qiongshan District , formerly Qiongzhou , is one of the four county-level districts which make up the city of Haikou, the capital of Hainan province of the People's Republic of China.The Qiongshan dialect of Lingao is spoken in Qiongshan....
, about 5 kilometers away from the city center of Haikou.
Li Deyu (787-850)
Li DeyuLi Deyu
Li Deyu , courtesy name Wenrao , formally the Duke of Wei , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of brothers Emperor Wenzong and Emperor Wuzong and their uncle Emperor Xuānzong...
served as chancellor
Chancellor of the Tang Dynasty
The chancellor of the Tang Dynasty was an office that was semi-formally designated for a number of high level officials at one time during the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty.- Origins :...
during the Tang Dynasty. He was the leader and namesake of the Li faction during the Niu-Li Factional Struggles
Niu-Li Factional Struggles
Niu-Li Factional Struggles referred to the phenomenon that persisted at court in the middle-late Tang Dynasty of China — largely viewed to have started during the reign of Emperor Muzong, circa 821, but having its seeds in the events of his father Emperor Xianzong — between two court factions...
that pitted officials of humble and aristocratic origins against each other. Tang Emperor Xuānzong
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
ended the struggles by handing complete defeat to the Li faction, demoting Li Deyu and sending him to exile in Hainan, where he held the position of census officer at Yai Prefecture (modern Haikou) and remained until his death.
Li Gang (1083-1140)
Li Gang was a government official who held the office of chancellor for a brief period (75 days) during final days of the Northern Song DynastySong Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
. He was put in charge of the defense against the invading Jin Dynasty by the young Emperor Qinzong
Emperor Qinzong of Song
Emperor Qinzong was the ninth emperor of the Song Dynasty of China, and the last emperor of the Northern Song. His personal name was Zhao Huan. He reigned from January 1126 to January 1127....
, but was removed from his post when the emperor was falsely hoping to enter peace negotiations with the Jin. The Northern Song Dynasty fell in 1127 and Emperor Qinzong became a prisoner of the Jin Dynasty for the rest of his life. Li Gang was released from exile and rehabilitated in 1129 and held various government offices in the Southern Song Dynasty.