2024 Cultural 'Summer' Journey (Fifteen): Yuhuang Temple in Fucheng (Part Two)

The Yuhuang Temple in Fucheng houses hundreds of complete sculptures that almost encompass all the mythological figures in Taoist culture. Among them, the Yuan Dynasty's twenty-eight constellations in the Hall of the Twenty-Eight Constellations hold the highest artistic value and are acclaimed as 'unique treasures in the country.' The twenty-eight constellations in Yuhuang Temple are life-sized, and their images are vivid and lifelike. Ancient laborers sculpted the twenty-eight constellations into 28 characters of different genders, ages, personalities, and statuses to recognize, distinguish, and revere the constellations, making them more relatable and easier to pass down. The sculptures incorporate Western sculpting techniques, featuring broad shoulders and narrow waists, high noses, and well-proportioned bodies. Even the relaxed eye bags, subtle expressions, and knots on the clothes are carved vividly. Most of the twenty-eight constellations face east, with three facing north and four facing south, holding jade tablets, releasing birds, and training dogs and sheep. The statues vary in posture: some are frontal, some are side-facing, some are sitting, some are squatting, some are old, some are young, some are male, some are female, some are civil, and some are military. The floating ribbons, the fluttering of draped cloth and corners of garments, and the raised eyebrows and eyes reflect the secularization of Song Dynasty sculptures. Among the twenty-eight constellations, there are nine female statues, seven of which have high buns and flower crowns. There are nineteen male gods, seven of whom are warriors, two wear Dongpo caps, one wears a wind cap, and the other male gods wear high crowns with flying tassels, paired with wide-sleeved robes and high wooden clogs peeking out from underneath. Regardless of age, all male gods wear robes, highlighting the steadiness of the elderly, the elegance of the middle-aged, and the grace of the young. If you have the chance to visit Jincheng, I highly recommend visiting the Yuhuang Temple in Fucheng. The glazed components, murals, wood carvings, and especially the colored sculptures here will surely be a feast for the eyes.