Zhongde Palace was originally located at the foot of the western slope of Jimu Mountain in the western part of Gulangyu Island, Xiamen, near a small river, with its back to the mountain and facing the sea, and was known by the faithful as the Great Dao Gong An. For unknown reasons, the temple ceased its worship activities, henceforth referred to as the Old An; the river in front of the temple was called the Old An River.
According to legends, the statue of Great Dao Gong was invited into Zhongde Palace for worship around the Ming Chenghua period (1455-1487). After the aforementioned Zhongde Palace ceased its activities, residents living in the areas of what is now Neicuo Ao Road and Jimu Mountain Road raised funds to build a new Zhongde Palace on the southeast slope of the hill commonly known as Wanzaiwei in the northwest of Gulangyu Island (currently numbered 373 Neicuo Ao Road). The exact year of its construction is not recorded in historical texts.Zhongde Palace is a three-door, two-hall temple with a construction area of approximately 78 square meters. Behind and to the right of the palace, additional protective buildings were constructed, with the entire palace complex nestled under ancient banyan trees, creating a tranquil environment, covering a total area of about 600 square meters. Above the central main gate, the stone beam is inscribed with the words ‘Baosheng Emperor’. Above this hangs a wooden plaque with the vertical inscription ‘Zhongde Palace’. On the stone pillars of the central gate, the following couplets are engraved: ‘Dipping water revives the living spirit, temple worship in Sangbang Hong Zhongde’ and ‘A thread of divine pulse, the emperor is still a real person in the silk seal’.
On either side of the palace gate, a pair of exquisitely carved stone lions are placed. Upon entering the palace gate is the worship hall, where a large copper incense burner, donated by the faithful Zhuang Tianxiang in 1992, stands before an offering table. Further in is the Dragon and Tiger Well, originally named for the dragon and tiger images carved on the walls on either side, which were capped during previous repairs. The well has been restored in the recent reconstruction. In the central shrine of the rear hall, the statue of the Baosheng Emperor is enshrined. The golden-faced, black-bearded statue has bright, spirited eyes, sitting majestically in the niche, exuding a righteous aura that commands respect. On either side of the rear hall, there are statues of 36 officials and generals, adding to the solemnity and dignity of the place.Related posts:
Unique Theatre with Advanced Facilities and Diverse Performances
Quanzhou Large Art Specimen Museum – Multi-disciplinary Museum
A Small Park Dominated by Unique Stone Landscapes
Fujian Shoushan National Mine Park Introduction
Xiaodeng Moon Bay Introduction
Xiamen Sea Tour – Experience the Essence of Xiamen
