Introduction of Foshan ancestral temple attractions:

Foshan Zumiao is located in downtown Zumiao Road, Foshan City. This is a temple dedicated to the Northern Tian Xuan Emperor who believes in Taoism. It was founded in the Yuanfeng period of the Northern Song Dynasty (A.D. 1078- 1085), and was renamed Ling Ying Temple in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. Since the Song and Yuan Dynasties, this place has been a place for public discussion among various ancestral halls in Foshan, which has become a link between surnames, so Foshan people used to call it the ancestral hall.

The ancestral hall faces south and covers an area of about 3500 square meters. The original building was burnt down at the end of Yuan Dynasty and rebuilt in the fifth year of Hongwu in Ming Dynasty (1372). After more than 20 times of reconstruction and expansion, an ancient architectural complex with large scale, exquisite production, unique national style and strong local characteristics was finally formed. The ancestral hall is composed of Wanfutai, Ling Ying Archway, Jinxiangchi, Bell and Drum Tower, Sanmen, Qian Dian, Main Hall and Qingzhen Building, which are arranged on the north-south central axis. It has a rigorous structure and a complete system.

Wanfutai, located at the southernmost tip of the ancestral temple, is a big stage dedicated to Cantonese opera performances. Cantonese opera originated in Foshan. Every June and July, all the troupes performing abroad will return to Foshan, disband the old classes and reorganize the new ones. Traditionally, the first performance of the new troupe must be held at Wanfutai in the ancestral hall. This building is the roof of a rolling shed, and the table is three rooms wide. The front and rear stages are separated by gold lacquer wood carvings, and doors are arranged on both sides of the partition for actors to enter and leave. The middle upper part of the partition is carved with Fu Lushou Samsung; The lower part is engraved with the scene of the drama story "Cao Cao Tongquetai Night Banquet". Carve one tiger and two arhats in Yi Long. These gold lacquer wood carvings are exquisitely carved, exquisite in skill and rough in brushwork.

Opposite Wanfutai is the Ling Ying Archway, which was built in the second year of Jingtai in Ming Dynasty (145 1). On the north side of the archway is Jinxiangchi. There is a carved tortoise and snake in the pool, which is a symbol of the Northern Emperor. There are bell and drum towers, revered doors and broken doors on both sides of Jinxiangchi. The walls next to the two doors are decorated with brick carvings, gray carvings and pottery sculptures. Among them, pottery sculpture is the most striking. On the east side of the pottery sculpture, eleven energetic old people, smiling and holding precious mirrors, symbolize the sun god; The pottery sculpture on the west side is a beautiful woman, graceful and colorful, holding a precious mirror in her hand, symbolizing the moon god.

Sanmen, due north of Jinxiang, was built in the early years of Jingtai in the Ming Dynasty (1450) and is the main entrance of the ancestral hall. The building is exquisite, the eaves are decorated with gold lacquer wood carvings from east to west, and the carving contents are folk stories. There are ceramic figures on the roof, and the ridge of the tile spans the whole roof. The height of the ceramic figure is about 1. 5 meters, the whole plant 3 1. 6 meters, composed of 152 characters, with the word "Wen". This colorful, vivid and interesting ceramic figure tile ridge makes the building more tall, spectacular and magnificent.

After three doors, you arrive at the front hall, where there is a fragrant pavilion. In temples, the gods revered by Taoism are enshrined in golden clips _ statues. What deserves special attention is the golden lacquer wood carving Chen Fang statue in the temple, which is an important Chen Fang in the ancestral hall. The front of the statue is divided into two layers, and the upper layer is carved with the scene of "Li Yuanba Long Fu Residence".

The lower layer of the whole gold lacquer wood carving is the most wonderful. The photo alludes to Cantonese opera actor Li, who joined the anti-Qing rebellion after the Opium War. In the hands of many carved figures, the banner with the word "Li" written on it is held high, which actually implies that Li joined the rebel army. Guangdong folks compare the "Dragon Pony" to a "red-maned spirited horse" and call foreigners, especially the British, "red-haired ghosts". Therefore, "Fu Longju" is a metaphor for taming "red-haired ghosts". What is particularly amazing is that the picture of this costume drama is actually mixed with several foreigners wearing hats and tuxedos. They were either knocked to the ground or begged for mercy on their knees, covered in ugliness. Filled with the hatred of the Guangdong people towards the invaders. It is said that this exquisite gold lacquer wood carving was made by a fake wreath of yellow light in Guangxu period in one year.

To the north of Qian Dian is the main hall, which was built in the fifth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1372). It is the earliest and most important building of ancestral temple in the Middle Ages, and it is the place where ancestral temple activities are held locally. In the center of the hall is a bronze statue of the northern emperor, weighing about 2. Five tons. This statue of the Northern Emperor sits in the shrine, with kind eyes, a long beard floating five times on his chest, luxurious clothes and bare feet. The head lamp, west side, hands and feet of the bronze statue are all gold-plated, and the whole statue is gold, which is the embodiment of the superb casting technology of ancient craftsmen in Foshan.

Qingzhen Building on the north side was built in the first year of Jingjiaqing (1796), which is the latest building in the ancestral temple complex and has two floors. According to legend, it used to be the highest place in Foshan, belonging to one of the ten scenic spots in Foshan. You can have a panoramic view of the ancestral temple and Foshan when you board Qingzhen Building.

Today's ancestral hall is the location of Foshan Museum, with the east-west gate, passing through the courtyard with lush trees and flowers, and entering the Duanyan Gate, you can be placed in the ancestral hall and ancient temple. Chinese and foreign tourists are bustling, and this temple of folk crafts has always been radiant with youthful brilliance.

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