Wuhou Memorial Temple

Welcome to the Wuhou Memorial Temple, or Wuhou Ci, a site of profound historical and cultural weight in Chengdu. As a professor of East Asian history, I find this temple to be one of the most fascinating examples of ancestor…

We begin at the Han Zhaolie Temple, the primary hall dedicated to Liu Bei, the founding emperor of Shu Han. In the hierarchy of the temple, the Emperor's hall correctly precedes that of his minister. …

Descending a few steps from the Emperor’s hall, we enter the Wuhou Hall, the spiritual heart of the temple. This hall is dedicated to Zhuge Liang, whose title 'Marquis of Wu' gives the temple its name. …

To the sides of the main halls are the corridors dedicated to the most famous generals of the Three Kingdoms: Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. These two men were Liu Bei’s sworn brothers, and their statues are among the most expressive in…

Near the entrance to the Liu Bei hall stands one of the temple’s most prized cultural relics: the Triple Success Tablet (San Jue Bei). Erected in 809 AD during the Tang Dynasty, this massive stone stele is famous for 'three…

Further into the grounds, we find the Sanyi Temple, a hall specifically dedicated to the 'Three Brothers of the Peach Garden': Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. While they are honored in the main halls, this temple focuses…

Perhaps the most visually iconic part of the Wuhou Temple is the path leading to the tomb of Liu Bei, flanked by high red walls and dense groves of emerald-green bamboo. This corridor is a masterpiece of landscape design,…

As we conclude our tour of the Wuhou Memorial Temple, I hope you have felt the enduring power of the Three Kingdoms legends. This site is more than just a collection of old buildings and statues; it is a repository of the values…