Wuhou Si 武侯祠, Chengdu

Sculptures of famous personalities from the Shu and Han periods.

Wuhou Si 武侯祠, also called Temple of the Duke of Wu, Wuhou Memorial Temple, and Temple of Zhuge Liang, is located an Nanjiao Park, on the southwest of Chengdu. Wuhou Si was built by the king of the Cheng empire in the last years of the Western Jin period (AD 265-316) in honour of Zhuge Liang, the Duke of Wu who was a military strategist during the Three Kingdoms period.

During the Ming period (1368-1644), Wuhou Si was merged with the nearby Zhaomieliao temple, which was dedicated to the memory of Emperor Liu Bei. As a result, the plaque at the entrance reads, Zhaolie Temple of the Han Dynasty, as Zhaolie is the posthumous title for Emperor Liu Bei. The temple, as seen today, was rebuilt in 1672 during the Kangxi era of the Qing dynasty. It is surrounded by cypresses and classical red walls. Among the sights in Wuhou Si is a gallery with over 40 sculptures of famous personalities from the Shu and Han periods. Within the compound of Wuhou Si are numerous memorial stones, scrolls and sacred implements.


Moss encrusted roofing on a structure in Wuhou Si.

I visited Wuhou Si when I organised a trip to explore the sights in Sichuan Province. I like the atmosphere in this huge temple, which covers 37,000 square meters, with its numerous pavilions over a huge area. It was a cold day where we were day, and this contributes to the mood of the place.

Wuhou Si is divided into five sections namely the Gate, the Second Gate, the Hall of Liu Bei, the Corridor and the Hall of Zhuge Liang, all of which has a south to north orientation. The most valuable relic within Wuhou Si is a stele that dates from AD 809. This huge stele measures 367 cm (144 inches) high and 95 cm (37 inches) wide. It is called the Triple-Success-Stele - the successes being the articles written by Pei Du, a famous minister of the Tang Dynasty who served four emperors in succession, calligraphy by Liu Gongquan, one of the most brilliant calligraphers in Chinese history, and a statement about the morality and achievements of Zhuge Liang.

A visit to Wuhou Si illuminates the status of Zhuge Liang above the emperors, generals and ministers in history among the Chinese people.

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