Late Night Visit to Xiangu Temple | Not for the Faint of Heart

Visiting late at night is a bit abrupt, and I can't help but feel a little nervous. Speaking of Taoist holy places, the temple is a place to worship immortals, and its sacredness and solemnity are awe-inspiring. Xiangu Temple in Cuiling Village, Gujiao Town, was built in the early Yuan Dynasty, and after many vicissitudes, it was rebuilt in its original form during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Although it is not large, it is famous for its imitation wood brick carvings, which are extremely rare. The temple enshrines Xiangu Tongzhenzi, and its solemnity is awe-inspiring. Xiangu Tongzhenzi, whose surname is Ma and whose name is Shouming, is known as Tongzhen. Her life story is recorded in the twelfth volume of the Guangxu edition of the "Zhi Li Jiangzhou Zhi" (Annals of Jiangzhou, Zhili). As for her era, the stele says it was the early Yuan Dynasty, while the Guangxu County Annals places it in the Southern Song Dynasty, which may be the mystery of history. She was originally from Xizhou, but the stele and the county annals are divided into Xixian and Yonghe, adding to her legendary color. Xiangu practiced Taoism and was compassionate, often saving people from suffering. She once built the Fengxian Palace here to worship the gods and pray for the people. Behind the statue in the center of the temple is a beautiful brick carving of Xiangu holding a peach, symbolizing her ability to grant longevity and health to the people. In the hearts of the local villagers, Xiangu Tongzhenzi is no less important than the Medicine King Sun Simiao. Although the statue on the altar is newly sculpted, it is lifelike, as if it can see through all the suffering in the world. On either side of the side doors stand two maids, holding pomegranates and peaches, with their upper bodies exposed, graceful in shape, adding a touch of vitality to the temple. Although the late-night visit was a bit of a disturbance, I felt honored to be shocked by such a sacred and solemn temple.