Pinghe - Wumiao Temple

Wumiao Temple in Jiufeng Town, Pinghe, was originally built in the 13th year of the Ming Zhengde era (1518). It is located at Bogongke on Shuangta Mountain in Jiufeng Town, Pinghe County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province. It is one of the four major temples established during the early period of Pinghe County and is dedicated to Emperor Guan Sheng. Having undergone multiple renovations, the existing structure combines original Ming Dynasty elements with Qing Dynasty restorations, reflecting the unique style of Minnan ancient architecture. The temple was proposed by Wang Yangming after pacifying the Zhang bandits and is one of the four major temples of the Pinghe county seat (now Jiufeng Town), alongside the Confucian Temple and City God Temple, forming the traditional layout of an ancient county seat. It was repaired several times during the Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods. The temple preserves Ming Dynasty weapons (such as dragon-headed staffs and moon shovels) and Qing Dynasty stone incense burners. It is situated at Bogongke on Shuangta Mountain in Jiufeng Town, backed by the Wenfeng Twin Towers, facing the highway, with beautiful scenery and convenient transportation. The main hall, Chongning Hall, has five bays in width and three bays in depth, featuring a raised beam wooden frame and a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, showcasing Minnan architectural characteristics. The overall layout is harmonious and unified, including a paifang archway, entrance hall, opera stage, main hall, and rear hall, covering an area of about 354 square meters, with densely arranged dougong brackets and elaborately carved beams and painted rafters. The temple primarily worships Emperor Guan Sheng (Guan Yu), with accompanying deities Guan Ping and Zhou Cang. Folk beliefs hold that they possess powers over life and fortune, protection in imperial examinations, warding off evil, and safeguarding merchants, embodying the integration of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.