Guanlin Temple

Introduction 

Also known as General Guan's Tomb, Guanlin Temple is located around seven kilometers south of Luoyang City and it was constructed in 1596 during the reign of Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty between 1368 and 1644. The  Temple covers an area of 16.5 acres.

Guanlin Temple is where the Tomb of Guan Yu lies and he was a general of the Kingdom of Shu during the Three Kingdoms Period. After he was murdered in 220 CE, Guan Yu’s head was sent to Cao Cao by Liu Bei in order to frame Cao Cao and start a fight between the Shu Kingdom and the Wei Kingdom. However, Cao Cao discovered the inhuman plan and counterplotted, at the same time Cao Cao respect his loyalty so he decided to bury General Guan Yu outside the South Gate of Luoyang City. As the years went by succeeding Emperors still revered Guan Yu and even worshiped him as God of War and as a result, the Temple remains very symbolic and holy. 

Guan Yu is venerated in Chinese folk religion and also three other major doctrines of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. In Buddhism he is a protector of the dharma called Sangharama Bodhisattva. In Taoism, he is a deity known as Holy Ruler Emperor Guan while in Shenism he is the god of law, war, fortune and policemen. In addition, he is believed to be a god of businesses in both the Vietnamese and Chinese cultures. During every New Year celebrations, people display a picture of Guan Yu in front of their doors for good blessings.

Things and activities to do on a visit   

The Temple

The Temple houses small stone lions, tablets and cypress. Its general layout is the same as the traditional style of Chinese architecture with asymmetrical structures.

Guanlin International Pilgrimage Ceremony

If you happen to visit the temple from September to early October you will be part of the Guanlin International Pilgrimage Ceremony carried out every year during this period ever since 1994. A lot of travelers from the states, Thailand, Singapore, Japan and many other countries gather to join this ceremony. 

At the ceremony, there are a series of performances, dances and even martial arts before commencing a solemn and magnificent pilgrimage ceremony that is performed with hosts dressed in special attires. 

Art Gallery 

There is also an art gallery in the temple with a collection of at least 2000 stone inscriptions, ancient steles and epitaphs providing a wealth of information to researchers of ancient Chinese history.

Opera Tower

The first thing you see when you get to the vicinity outsiders the main complex is the Opera Tower sitting on an elevated mini stage. Directly in front of the tower towards the south lies the Main Gate and then the Courtesy Gate. 

Towards the north of the Opera Tower are the Main Gate, the Courtesy Gate, the Third Gate, the First Hall, the Second Hall, the Third Gate and then the Tomb of Guan Yu. The gate of First Hall houses a series of reliefs spelling out famous stories of Guang Yu.

Guan Yu burial mound

Visitors get to see a tree-covered mound that is where the head and wooden body of Guan Yu were interred almost 1800 years ago. There is a sense of peace and tranquillity in these burial grounds and the air even feels calm and fresh actuated by the scent of cypress trees. 

Halls

There is a Hall of Peace with a glimmering golden face of the statue of Guan Yu dressed in Taoist attire and sitting on a dragon throne with his attendants standing either side of his statue as if listening to his celestial decrees.  

Hall of the God of Wealth has the imagery of Guan Yu with his traditional red face in a building that is believed to be one of the oldest buildings in the temple where people gather to pray for success in their business. 

Chunqiu Hall with the statue of Guan Yu reading his book facing a large bed set up for the general’s spirit to relax and his spirit to continue to read every night. 

Joss furnace  

Located in front of the temple are furnaces used by worshippers to burn joss paper and ghost money to make offerings to Guan Yu and to send riches to ancestors. 

Stone Lions and Steles

There are more than 110 stone lions of different shapes and sizes at the temple and each has a unique expression. The biggest stone lion is located in front of the Courtesy Gate and weighs about 1.5 tonnes.

At the temple, there are also more than 1,000 table and epitaph inscriptions detailing special historical events and right before the tomb of Guan Yu is a stone tablet which was built in the Qing Dynasty and is carved with the highest of inscriptions of Guan Yu by many different emperors.