The intersection of Datong Road and Xindizhi Street in Tangjiawan Town is the Tangjia Wenchang Temple in Zhuhai.
Originally, there was only one temple in Shengtang Temple and three temples in Tangjia. It is located on the bank of Tangjiawan in Zhuhai, at the intersection of Datong Road and Xindizhi Street in Tangjiawan Town. It is composed of Shengtang Temple, Wenwu Temple and Jinhua Temple. Tangjiasan Temple is the oldest, largest and most well-preserved ancient temple in Zhuhai. The Tang Family Temple, which was built before the Ming Dynasty, originally had only one temple, which was regarded as the ancestral temple of the Tang family.
when it was founded, Tang Jiafu moved here.
Old people in the village rumored that the ancestral temple was built about 811 years ago, and the ancestors of Tang and Liang in the village had just moved to Tang. Based on this, it is speculated that the construction of the temple is almost equivalent to the history of the Tang family. The modern cultural history of Zhuhai also started from this time.
Three temples of different religions live in one place
Different religious factions are incompatible, and few temples live in one place. However, hundreds of years after the temple was built, the ancestors of the Tang family successively built Wenwu Temple and Jinhua Temple on the right side of the temple. Not only that, the arrangement of the gods in the temple is even more amazing. In the temple, the statue of Buddha Sakyamuni is in a room with the Taoist immortal Xuantian Emperor (Northern Emperor) and the medical spirit emperor. The main hall of Wenwu Temple is dedicated to Emperor Guan and Emperor Wenchang, as well as General Zhou Cang and Prince Guan Ping in The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In the Golden Flower Temple, the Goddess of the Sea, the Lady of the Queen of Heaven and the Lady of Golden Flower, who sent their children, sit together.
Buddhism, Taoism, local gods and Confucianism in the Three Temples, as a complex of multiple religions and cultures, have excited the experts who visited the National Research Center of Famous Historical and Cultural Cities for the first time.
Three temples: the blue brick roof and the rosy cheeks are fading
At first glance, three temples side by side are not much different from ordinary ancestral temples in Guangdong. In fact, this is not a traditional ancestral temple, but three interconnected and relatively independent temples. The three temples are lined up, with Wenwu Temple in the middle, Shengtang Temple on the left and Jinhua Temple on the right.
The overall framework of the temple is still intact, the walls are very simple, most of them are blue-gray, and there are a few traces of grass green and vermilion painting on the eaves and beams. The glazed tile roof, which was originally full of brilliance, was badly broken, revealing a black skeleton, which was difficult to hide the vicissitudes of hundreds of years. The bricks on the temple wall have also become mottled with historical sites because of long-term wind and rain erosion.
According to Tang Guanting, the editor-in-chief of Tangjiawan Overseas Chinese Journal who accompanied him, the three temples in Tangjia were not built at the beginning, but were expanded in stages. The Third Temple is located in the northwest to southeast, with a blue brick roof and a mixed structure with a bucket and a beam. It is 32.73 meters wide and 29.6 meters deep. There is a platform in front of the door that is parallel to the Third Temple, about 1 meters above the ground, and a low wall with a length of 13.5 meters, covering a total area of about 1,511 square meters.
According to the Records of Tangjiawan Town, the three temples of Tangjia have been rebuilt several times in history, and now the main building is rebuilt in the second year of Tongzhi in Qing Dynasty (1863). The magnificent incense jungle that we see today covers an area of thousands of square meters. It is the temple that was overhauled and expanded for the last time in the second year of Tongzhi (1863) and has a history of 141 years.
1. Shengtang Temple, which was founded before the Ming Dynasty, is the oldest of the three temples. Behind the temple lies the Goose Peak, facing Zhuhai in front, Venus Gate on the left and Crane Age on the right. The stone of Buddha's epiphany is in the center behind the main hall. Therefore, it is called the treasure house of the Tang family.
The architectural style of Shengtang Temple is two entrances and one patio, with a fragrant pavilion in the middle, a rest peak in the main hall and a hard peak in the lobby. The temple gate is inscribed with the calligraphy "Shengtang Temple", and the two couplets are "the door of the Sect is enlightened and the dharma circle is opened", and the font is vigorous and powerful. There is siddhattha gotama in the center of the Buddhist temple, with Xuantian Emperor and Medical Spirit Emperor on the left and right sides, and a bunch of small statues lined up on the left and right sides of the statue of the Lord God. On the left are Wu Judge, Dragon Tree King, Kang Gong Zhen Jun, Zhao Gong Marshal and Fang Marshal, and on the right are Marshal Yin, Marshal Wang, Emperor Huaguang, King Hongsheng, Marshal Che Gong and Judge Wen.
It is far from the kind-hearted image of Buddha in the eyes of ordinary people. The statue of Sakyamuni enshrined in the Temple of Temples has three sides and six arms, dark face and wide eyes, which makes people respect. The old man Tang Guanting said that this statue is very different from the statues of Sakyamuni in other temples in Zhuhai. It should be the Buddha statue of Lamaism, the state religion of the Yuan Dynasty, and it is based on the statue of Sakyamuni. At present, only Tibet and the Lama Temple in Beijing have this kind of Buddha statue in China. As for why the Buddha statue of Lamaism was enshrined at that time? Later generations are not known.
Shengtang Temple is the oldest Buddhist temple in Xiangshan County. Tang Guanting said that the temple has been overhauled many times. From the beginning of its establishment to the present, the main building of the temple is only the main seat of the Hall of Heroes, and some walls made of rubble and concrete and oyster shells. The "echo wall" in the northeast of Shengtang Temple is said to have been inherited from ancient times. It was rammed by ancestors of Tang and Liang with oyster shells and soil. The wall is very strong and cool. In addition, to this day, I still feel that my voice is loud and echoing when I speak in this chanting.
2. Wenwu Temple, Seven Stars and Two Saints
Wenwu Temple, also known as Wenwu Temple, was built a little later than Shengtang Temple. According to the inscription in the temple, its architectural age is about the early Qing Dynasty.
The Emperor Wendi's Hall is a building with three entrances and two sky wells, with five beams in the middle and short melon columns in the middle, and carved plates in the front and rear beams, all of which are hard peaks. Sitting in the main hall of Wenwu Temple are Emperor Wenchang in bright colors and Emperor Guan Sheng in formidable appearance, as well as a tall red hare and Zhou Cang with a golden seal in his hand and an odd face.
according to the records, since the Jiaqing dynasty of Qing dynasty, Guandi and Wenchang Diduo have been worshiped together, which is called the god of wealth, and the incense is flourishing. Guan Dijun, that is, Guan Gong, is enshrined in Buddhism and Taoism. In Buddhism, it is called Galand Bodhisattva, and in Taoism, it is called Wu Caishen. Guan Dijun represents loyalty, righteousness, benevolence and prosperity; Emperor Wenchang, also known as Wenquxing, stands for fame and fortune, because he is knowledgeable, intelligent and in charge of people's wisdom.
The old man Tang Guanting told the reporter that the main building of Emperor Wudi's Hall was rebuilt in the second year of Tongzhi in Qing Dynasty (1863). Most of the fine Shiwan ceramics inlaid on the main ridge and cornices of Emperor Wen's Hall were added at that time, including Buddha's light, relics, dragons, etc., all by famous artists. Temple plaque "Emperor Wen's Hall" and "Seven Stars are Glorious, Two Saints are Respectful", temple plaque of Shengtang Temple and temple plaque of "Great Enlightenment of Zongmen and Great Application of Legality" are scholars in the Qing Dynasty, and Xiangshan people who have served as Shaanxi Governor, Sichuan Daizong Capital and Fujian Fantai have written books by Yan. Several stone inscriptions preserved in the Wenwu Hall record the precious historical data of Tang family's military defense, overseas Chinese, economic development and historical figures' activities in the Qing Dynasty.
3. The Golden Flower Temple Si Pei Chizi HP Cangsheng
The Golden Flower Temple is the youngest of the three Tang temples. According to the inscription, it was built in the forty-fourth year of Qing Qianlong (AD 1779) and dedicated to Mrs. Golden Flower.
Jinhua Temple is an ancient building rebuilt in the second year of Tongzhi in Qing Dynasty (1863). The temple is a hard-topped building with two entrances and one patio. The original incense pavilion was destroyed and now it was rebuilt in 1993.
The main hall of the Golden Flower Temple is dedicated to the kind-hearted Lady Golden Flower. On both sides, there are nine deities of eighteen destitution women and five boys dancing dragons and lions, which are a temple for pilgrims to pray for their children. In addition to offering sacrifices to Mrs. Jinhua, the temple also offers sacrifices to gods such as the Queen of Heaven.
The plaques of Jinhua Temple are "Jinhua Temple" and "Si Pei Chizi"; HP Cangsheng Temple Union was written by Tang Buying (Zeng Gongsheng), a scholarly family of the Tang family, in the second year of Tongzhi (1863).
Lady Jinhua is a goddess enshrined in the Pearl River Delta region. The Golden Flower Temple is the hope of parents for their children. Those who have no children come here to pray for their children, while those who have children pray for their children to be safe and successful in their studies.
The "stone of Buddha's manifestation" is still under the lotus seat
The same saying has been circulating in the village for generations. In ancient times, the place where the three temples of the Tang family were built was originally a large forest, and on the left was a vast sea. One day, a fisherman passed by here fishing in the morning, and saw bursts of cigarettes floating in the forest, as if the sound of chanting and knocking on wooden fish was still heard. He pushed aside the vines and went in to see it, and found a stone in it, which looked like a Buddha. Go back and tell the villagers that the villagers all thought it was a sign of the Buddha's appearance, so they mobilized the village to raise money and build a temple there to worship. According to legend, the stone of Buddha's epiphany is still under the lotus seat of Buddha Sakyamuni enshrined in the main hall of the temple.
Matoujun fought the Japanese to save the Tang family
On the left side of the front hall of Wenwu Temple, a general named Fuma is enshrined, and the villagers call him Matoujun. This general is dedicated to raising horses for Guan Gong, and the red hare he raises is a BMW that leaps a thousand miles. According to the legend in the village, a long time ago, pirates frequented the seaside of the Tang family. For several nights in a row, the villagers heard the running and neighing of horses outside the house, as well as the sound of fighting with Haikou. After that, everything in the village was peaceful. The villagers believe that Matoujun resisted the invasion of pirates and blessed the peace of the Tang family.
Miss Jinhua threw herself into the lake when she got married.
During the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, a wife of Patrol Press in Guangzhou gave birth during childbirth, and she was very anxious. Unexpectedly, she was very sleepy and dreamed that an old man pointed out, "Please ask Miss Jinhua to come, so that mother and son can be safe." Patrol sent someone to find a folk girl named "Golden Flower" and took her home. Coincidentally, as soon as Miss Jinhua entered the backyard, her wife gave birth to the baby safely. Since then, Golden Flower Girl has become a "Goddess of Mercy", and people from all over the country come to her to ask for a child or deliver a baby. An ordinary village girl is gradually deified, and finally no one dares to marry her. Miss Jinhua languished day by day and finally threw herself into the lake. People call this lake Fairy Lake, and a golden flower temple is built to commemorate the golden flower, and April 17th of the lunar calendar is designated as the golden flower birthday every year. Before liberation, there were many Golden Flower Temples in the Pearl River Delta region, where incense was flourishing. Every Golden Flower Birthday, vendors gathered, and troupe performances continued for several days, which was very lively.
Before liberation, the gods were invited to "patrol the streets" at the Dragon Boat Festival every year.
Before liberation, the old people in the Tang family recalled that during the Dragon Boat Festival every year, the three silent temples on weekdays would become very lively. "At four o'clock in the afternoon, I began to wander, commonly known as playing bodhisattva. The adults dressed up the gods such as Hua Tuo, Tianhou Niangniang, Wenchang Dijun, Eighteen Nannies, and Wuhou Gong, and equipped them with dragon chairs to patrol the streets one by one; The procession is vast, with dragons, lion dances, floating colors and playing music, beating gongs and drums, setting off firecrackers and salutes. The scene is very lively. From time to time, the villagers who watched along the way bowed to the incense, praying for good weather and good harvests. Every household burns coarse incense behind the door and hangs wormwood at the door. " After liberation, various religious and folk activities in the three temples of the Tang family were gradually suspended. When the Wanshan Islands were liberated, the three temples of the Tang family were used as temporary places for the PLA to station. In 1958, the three temples of the Tang family were also converted into kindergartens. Lang Lang's reading sound has replaced the hundreds of years of Sanskrit sound. During the "Cultural Revolution", all the Buddha statues in the three temples of the Tang family were destroyed and turned into warehouses for storing grain in the village. Fortunately, however, several bluestone inscriptions on the temple wall have been completely preserved. At present, the Buddha statues in the three temples were all rebuilt in 1993, and the master in Fujian was asked to copy them according to the memories of the old people.
It is necessary to worship God when going out to sea or going far across the ocean
"Worship the Holy Temple can get the protection of ancestors, while Wenwu Temple represents the moral quality of Tang people's lectures and their enterprising spirit of eager to make contributions." Although the incense of the three temples in the Tang family is no longer there, the Tang people who have lived here for generations still regard the three temples as the spirit and shelter of their ancestors. Before the fishermen in the village go out to sea or the businessmen and scholars travel across the ocean, they are used to coming to visit the three temples to pray for smooth sailing.
Liang Bo, a temple watcher, told reporters that there are few religious activities in the three temples of the Tang family now, but many residents are used to going to worship in the temples on the first and fifteenth days of the first lunar month. Many elderly people come almost every day, burning incense to worship and pray, or just to chat with other old people in front of the temple.
At this time, not far from the temple, Grandma Liang, who is in her eighties, leans against an old house made of blue bricks with crutches and looks at three temples from a distance. It turned out that she was waiting to see if the old man in front of the temple had come. When more people came, she went to join in the fun, chat and catch up. Grandma Liang said that when the weather is fine, every day at two o'clock in the afternoon, the old people begin to gather in front of the temple to chat, and some go to the temple to pray for their wishes and relieve their worries. Talking about the old temples, she shook her head and said slowly, "It's been a long time, I don't remember". When I asked her if she remembered the appearance of the previous three temples, she pursed her lips and smiled and said, "It's as beautiful as it is now."
Huang Popo, who often plays cards in front of the temple, said: "Three temples mean a lot to the elderly, which means unforgettable historical achievements in the past, spiritual sustenance in the present and hope for the future."
A Hong, who runs a restaurant, is quite different. She says she doesn't often go to three temples. "There will be an endless stream of tourists visiting here every day, so I won't take up the place, so that those tourists can have more opportunities to know about Tangjia Town and the three temples."
everyone in the village will come here to pray
As the 81s generation of the Tang family, 21-year-old Ronaldinho specially visited the three temples of the Tang family because he wanted to bring friends from other places to visit. Ronaldinho, wearing a brand-name sports T-shirt, jeans and an MP3 player around his neck, is very fashionable. He knows a lot about the history of the three temples in the Tang family and the local customs.
"Some people may think that these three ancient temples are being forgotten by young people. In fact, the three temples, together with the spirit of the ancestors of the Tang family, have deeply penetrated into the blood of our Tang family. We are not willing to lose this spiritual belief that has lasted for hundreds of years and has been inherited for generations. " Ronaldinho said that every first and fifteenth day, the young people in the village will also come with their elders to burn incense, worship and pray, with offerings such as apples, onions and garlic, hoping that they will be safe and sound, and that children will be smart and can count.
Nine bluestone inscriptions are more precious than ancient temples
Tang Guanting
Tang Jiasan Temple Council director, Tang Jiasan Temple historical and cultural researcher and editor-in-chief of Tangjiawan Overseas Chinese Journal
Tang Guanting believes that Tang Jiasan Temple has left behind not only ancient Lingnan buildings and beautiful myths and legends that last for hundreds of years, but also the nine bluestone inscriptions preserved in the temple are the most historical cultural relics. These inscriptions reflect the military defense, overseas Chinese, economic development and activities of historical figures in Tangjia Town during the Qing Dynasty.
The maintenance work of the fence is huge and difficult
In the seventh year of Daoguang (1821), Liang Shangju, a juren named Liang, wrote in the Inscription on Rebuilding the Three Temples: "After the renovation, the customs were favored, the people's hearts were pure, the morale was flourishing, the agricultural valley was prosperous, the merchants had numerous contacts, and the fish and salt were rich, which was almost more than that in previous decades." It shows that the social stability and economic prosperity and progress in Tangjia area during this period. The two rebuilding "donors" in the years of Qianlong and Daoguang were the older generation of surnamed tang, Liang and neighboring towns and counties, which has certain research value for overseas Chinese to explore their ancestors and find their roots.
During the Xianfeng period, there were foxes in the Tang family. "The foxes were so fierce that they were sleepy and frightened by the barking of dogs in the middle of the night; Although the heavy door is forced, the second is more exciting than the crow ... "As a result, we called on everyone to donate money to build a fence.
In the 4th year of Xianfeng (1854), Tang Buying wrote Inscriptions on Rebuilding the Wall and his son Tang Qihan wrote Inscriptions on Paying Shanghai County in September of the 2nd year of Xianfeng to Encourage Donation, which also showed the role played by the three temples of the Tang family, especially the Shengtang Temple, in the social history of the Tang family. "wai