Zhang Fei Temple
Encyclopedia
The Zhang Fei Temple was constructed to honor General Zhang Fei, a Chinese military leader from the Three Kingdoms Period. According to legend, the gold used to finance the construction of the temple was fished out of the Yangtze River
, along with the severed head of the general, who had been killed by two of his underlings.
During the 1,700 years since the temple was constructed, successive dynasties and emperors have added extensions to it. The temple includes an enormous hall in which a large statue of Zhang Fei can be found, a tower called Jieyi Tower, and pavilions to honor the poet Du Fu
, who lived in the temple for two years.
The temple has unfortunately now been lost to the waters of the Yangtze as the construction of the Three Gorges Dam
in 2006 caused waters to rise above the level of the temple. Many of the monuments have been saved, including the large statue of Zhang Fei and the ornate front gates.
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
, along with the severed head of the general, who had been killed by two of his underlings.
During the 1,700 years since the temple was constructed, successive dynasties and emperors have added extensions to it. The temple includes an enormous hall in which a large statue of Zhang Fei can be found, a tower called Jieyi Tower, and pavilions to honor the poet Du Fu
Du Fu
Du Fu was a prominent Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty.Along with Li Bai , he is frequently called the greatest of the Chinese poets. His greatest ambition was to serve his country as a successful civil servant, but he proved unable to make the necessary accommodations...
, who lived in the temple for two years.
The temple has unfortunately now been lost to the waters of the Yangtze as the construction of the Three Gorges Dam
Three Gorges Dam
The Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric dam that spans the Yangtze River by the town of Sandouping, located in the Yiling District of Yichang, in Hubei province, China...
in 2006 caused waters to rise above the level of the temple. Many of the monuments have been saved, including the large statue of Zhang Fei and the ornate front gates.
External links
- http://www.warriortours.com/river/zhang-fei.htm