Wuhou Memorial TempleOne of the most intelligent, wise, respected generals in all of Chinese history was General Zhuge Liang of the Shu Kingdom. Born in 181, he was an orphan raised by his uncle. At the height of his career he was so well respected that even his enemies held him in high regard. Forty years after his death in 234 Li Xiong ordered the construction of the Wuhou Memorial Temple in Chengdu in his honor.
The temple grounds cover almost thirty seven thousand square meters. Since the temple was built very close to the temple dedicated to Shu Emperor Liu Bei, whom Zhuge Liang served, after the 1672 renovation the two temples were joined and today they share an entrance. For this reason the plaque at the entrance reads Zhaolie Temple, but it’s most commonly known as Wuhou Memorial Temple.
The combined temple complex faces south and is divided into five main parts: the first gate, the second gate, the hall of Liu Bei, the corridor and finally the hall of Zhuge Liang. There are over 47 vibrantly painted clay statues of Emperor Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang and other prominent ministers of their time on the grounds, along with a number of well-maintained carvings and steles. The Triple Success Stele is a huge tablet, twelve feet high and three wide inscribed with an article authored by Tang Dynasty minister Pei Du and written by noted calligrapher Liu Gongquan, along with information on the life and successes of General Zhuge Liang. The stele is one of the temple’s main attractions.
The temple is a place of interest both for people who are and people who aren’t interested in Chinese history. There’s much information about the Three Kingdoms Period available on the grounds. As well, the simple beauty of the temple’s architecture and the lush, well-maintained grounds make it an attraction even for those with no interest in history.
