| Name: |
Chen Yang Hao
Miao |
| Main
figures: |
Chen Hao and
Yang Hao. Chen Hao is an otherwise-unknown hero "from the
Tang Dynasty," and Yang Hao was an attendant to the boy popularly
called "the last Song emperor." |
| Other figures: |
Tu
Di, Tian Hou;
numerous popular Buddhist and Taoist figures in the neighboring park
(see below) |
| "History":
|
The temple is
said to date back to the Ming Dynasty. It is known that the
extremely wealthy village of Xia Sha, within modern Shenzhen, is indeed
that old, and there is a photo from the early 1990s of a quite
dilapidated temple standing there (along with the equally hoary Huang
Ancestral Hall next door). However, the current structure, like
the Huang Hall, was "renovated"--almost certainly completely
rebuilt--in 1994, and there is nothing to indicate that the main figures
are of any great age. The best one can say is that veneration of
Chen Hao and Yang Hao has been going on here for a very long time, but
no real antiquity can be ascribed to the fabric of the temple.
Chen Hao was "someone from the
Tang" who "helped the people," according to the temple
keeper. This is the first time I encountered the phenomenon
described by Keith Stevens in his book, Chinese Gods:
"Temples keepers
generally...refer to their particular deities or heroes as having
lived 'a thousand years ago' or 'during the T'ang dynasty.' Both mean,
'I don't know when they lived, but it was a long time ago.'"
The temple keeper could tell me nothing
else: what he did, where he lived, and even the date of "Tang
Dynasty" came only after several inquiries--clearly meant to
appease.
With Yang Hao we are on more solid
ground. He was Yang Liang Jie, a maternal uncle of the Last
Song Emperor. You can read more of Yang Hao's story here.
|
| Description:
|
This is a
simple two hall, one courtyard
temple; the courtyard is covered. The entry hall has enclosed
rooms on either side of the door; the main hall has the two
figures of Yang Hao (B)
and Chen Hao (C)
in the central bay; Tu Di in the left
bay (A);
and Tian Hou in the right bay (D).
A bell E) |
| Festival/s:
|
Unknown, but
the feast day of Yang Hao may be held in either the sixth or the eighth
month of the lunar calendar. |
| Getting there:
|
The main gate
to Xia Sha village is plainly visible on the south side of Binhe Road in
Futian, across from the B&Q Hardware. All buses to the village
itself are circuitous; it might be best to take the Shenzhen Metro to
Che Gong Miao Station (named after another, no-longer-extant
temple). From there, walk south on Xiangmihu Road for about 10
minutes, to Binhe, from which crossing you can see the gateway.
Cross Binhe, enter the gate, and follow the road to the heart of the
village. OR from Che Gong Miao Station take a cab, likely to be
only a minimum (12.50 yuan) ride. Say "Shya sha tsoon"
(almost like "cha cha soon") to the cabbie. |
| Also in the area: |
The temple is
located in the center of Xia Sha Village. It is in a park/plaza which
also contains statues of various popular Buddhist and Taoist figures.
Next door is the Huang Ancestral Hall, said to be of the same vintage as
the temple. The streets of the plaza are lined with lampposts
representing various popular characters from Chinese literature. |
| About
the photos: |
All photos on
this page are copyright 2005 by James
Baquet |
Gallery
click pictures
to enlarge
The Exterior
 |
 |
 |
| The
front |
The
doorway |
The
two-hall structure
can be seen in this side
view |
The Interior
 |
|
The main
figures
with offerings |
 |
 |
 |
|
Tu Di (A) |
Yang Hao
(B)
and
Chen Hao (C) |
Tian Hou
(D) |
The Area
|
|
|
An
overview of the center of Xia Sha Village.
The temple is at left rear, the Huang Ancestral Hall at right |
Disclaimer
|
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