Legend of Wugong Chenghuang Temple

The Town God Temple in the East Street of the Old Town of Wugong County is also called the Town God Temple. Founded in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, it was expanded in the early years of the Tang Dynasty, and it was continuously repaired in later generations. It is unique in the west of Guanzhong, not only because of its exquisite architecture; Moreover, it is famous all over the world for "God wears a hat, only Wu Shen wears a crown". Why is the crown of the city god hanging here? Pretending to be a king? This is also related to Emperor Taizong and Li Shimin. In the second year of Zhenguan, there was a drought in Shaanxi. Li Shimin returned to Wugong County after inspecting the distribution of relief food and the project of building canals and raising children by the military and civilians in Qiqi and other places, and saw many villagers in the Chenghuang Temple with sad faces, firing guns and burning watches, burning incense and kowtowing, and praying to God for rain. He came to worship the city god and made a silent wish. "The duke has a spirit. If you can pour the rain in time and save the lives of all beings in the world, you will make great contributions to helping me carry out the New Deal, and I will send you a gift to help the German king. " I don't know whether Li Shimin's true feelings touched the city god or whether it was rainy after a long drought. The clear sky was overcast in the afternoon, and it rained at night, and it rained harder and harder. The long dry rain lasted for five days, which made the crops harvest well that year. In order to fulfill his promise, Li Shimin summoned the world, and the Wugong County Town God Temple was changed to the Capital Town God House, and the Town God was promoted to the third level, becoming the first-class auxiliary German king.

After four years of Zhenguan, the rectification of the world has achieved initial results. Li Shimin allocated more than 100 yuan to expand and repair the temple of the capital city god, and gave the city god a crown, court clothes, golden body and virtue. In the process of construction, in order to express infinite reverence for the real Dragon Emperor in his hometown, skilled craftsmen skillfully portrayed Qianlong, Youlong, Wolong, Zoulong and Panlong on the roof, roof, walls, beams and columns of the palace archway by means of painting, carving and firing. In addition, all eaves, ridges, dripping water and tiles of the pavilion hall have been replaced with glazed dragon kisses and ridged beasts to show the dignity and wealth of this Imperial City God Temple.

In the sixth year of Zhenguan, the capital city God Temple was repaired. Li Shimin led Wenwu Baiguan back to the martial arts school and attended the completion ceremony. He was very happy to see the rich and luxurious temple. After attending the sacrificial ceremony of the city god, he prepared thin wine in the yard to entertain his old friends. At the banquet with a harmonious atmosphere, he finally wrote a famous saying to officials at all levels present, "There are three eclipses, and I often think that farmers work hard and wear silk." Officials at all levels are required to care about the people and practise economy. Subsequently, a decree was issued to exempt Wugong County from taxes for two years and to pardon prisoners whose martial arts were below the death penalty. Huang cheng-a local official in the holy world. The highest official of the gods in the city is the "City God". Town gods were favored by ancient officials. The original intention of the "city god" is to protect the moat of the city, and the city god is the god who protects the city. Due to the respect of feudal kings for the city god, the status of the city god climbed all the way. "Wugong Town wears a crown" originated from a magical legend.

A group of sculptures dedicated to the temple tells an ancient and magical legend. According to legend, Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong, sleepwalked in hell. Facing the turbulent river of blood, the evil spirits were desperate and frightened. When he was worried, a handsome man came and carried him across the river. Before thanking him, the man had left. When Taizong woke up, he broke out in a cold sweat and was very grateful to the person who saved him. Early the next morning, Li Shimin told his ministers about his dream, and asked Wu Daozi to draw a portrait according to his clothes and appearance, and to look for rewards all over the country. I looked for it many times, but there was no news. Later, Li Shimin once resumed his martial arts and saw the statue of the City God Temple, just like the man in the dream. Suddenly, he realized that this fellow villager had helped him. "How can others go to the underworld and have compassion to save me!" So he added the martial arts city god as the king of Germany and Germany, rose to the third level, hung the crown and pretended to be the king.

Wugong Town God Temple, which faces south, covers an area of 5,000 square meters. It is the only town god temple in China that was named "the king of assisting morality" by Li Shimin Taizong. Therefore, Wugong Town God Temple is also known as the Capital Town God Temple, ranking first in the country.

Since then, people have spread the story of Li Shimin praying for rain to seal the gods more and more, so they regard the God of the City God as the spokesman of the Emperor SHEN WOO. They all prayed to the God of the City God to protect them from drought, flood, illness and death, and the lawsuit was promoted. The reputation of Beijing Shenfu is spreading further and further. In Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, incense flourished and temples were constantly improved. Unfortunately, in the movement to break the capitalism, theatres, bell and drum towers and other buildings were regarded as ghosts and gods, and all the cultural rubbish was destroyed. Only the sacrificial hall, the main hall and the sleeping hall were used as grain depots and survived.

Three well-preserved halls, after years of Cang Sang and wind and rain erosion, still exude charming brilliance. The outer eaves of the Immortal Hall and the main hall are five steps, and the four corners of the front and rear eaves columns rise. The whole decoration is made of glass components, which is magnificent and dazzling, and can be called a treasure in ancient buildings. Both sides are decorated with "two dragons playing with beads" glass relief. It is rare in general temples.

In the solemn three halls, with tall and majestic archways and extraordinary mountain gates, it is even more dazzling and magnificent. Visitors here are impressed by the intelligence and ingenuity of the ancients and their ingenious architectural talents.