Shanxi Travel Guide
The temple is situated in Yuncheng (Hedong as its ancient name), southwest of Shanxi, a basin of fertile soil and convenient transportation and well-known for its long history, ancient culture, rich resources and outstanding people. The ancient Chinese civilization of five thousand years has had close relation with this piece of land.
 |
| Temple of Lord Guan |
The 5,000-year history of ancient China was one of multitudes of heroes and talents, against the seas of stars of lustrous figures along the progress of ancient Chinese civilization, however, two alone have commanded the honor of appearing with the epithet "supreme"- - Confucius the Supreme Scholar and Lord Guan the Supreme Warrior.
Lord Guan was actually an honorary title bestowed on Guan Yu, or Guan Yun-Chang. Guan was born in 160 AD and died in 219. In assisting Liu Bei as one of his chief lieutenants in establishing the kingdom of Shu- - - one of the three "Superpowers" of the period, in China, he passed a career of fierce strives and valiant expeditions that provokes sad reverence. Although, as a military man, he had of course not made any score in the history of ancient Chinese ideologies, the heroic exploits and legendary adventures throughout his life made him a model of moral perfection, embodying fidelity, integrity, and valor, and national idol of all walks of the late feudal China from kings, courtiers, and generals down to soldiers, craftsmen, farmers, and merchants.
