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The Temple of the Five Lords (), also known as the "Temple of the Five Officials", is a memorial shrine to five exiled officials from the
Tang Tang or TANG most often refers to: * Tang dynasty * Tang (drink mix) Tang or TANG may also refer to: Chinese states and dynasties * Jin (Chinese state) (11th century – 376 BC), a state during the Spring and Autumn period, called Tang (唐) ...
and
Song A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetiti ...
dynasties that is located to the southeast of the city of Haikou on the island of
Hainan Hainan (, ; ) is the smallest and southernmost province of the People's Republic of China (PRC), consisting of various islands in the South China Sea. , the largest and most populous island in China,The island of Taiwan, which is slightly l ...
, China. During the times of these dynasties, Hainan was perceived as a remote part of the empire and was used as a place for banishment for disgraced court officials. All five officials commemorated at the temple encountered such a fate, typically after losing power struggles within the imperial court. Notable buildings of the temple complex are the Five Lords Ancestral Hall proper (), the Guanjia Hall (), the Xuepu Hall (), the East Hall () and West Hall (, also known as ), the Sugong Ancestral Hall (), the Ancestral Hall of the Two Fubo Generals (), the Bai Pavilion (), the Dongzhuo Pavilion (), the Suquan Pavilion (), the Xixin Hall (), and the Youxian Cave (). In total, the temple complex covers an area of 2800 square meters.Wugong Temple (Five Officials Temple) – chinatravel.com The temple's main building is the Five Lords Ancestral Hall. It is a red two-story wooden structure that stands more than 9 meters tall and has a total floor space of 560 square meters.Memorial Temple of Five Lords – china.org.cn
/ref> A historical inscription on a board placed over the front entrance on the second floor declares it the "first building in Hainan". The earliest buildings of the complex were erected during the reign of Wanli Emperor (1572–1620) of the
Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...
.Wugong Temple – China Travel Tour Guide
/ref> The temple has undergone a major restoration during the reign of the
Qing The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...
emperor Guanggxu (in 1889) followed by minor repairs that were carried out later. The five officials commemorated in the temple are the Tang chancellor Li Deyu (, 787–850), and the four Song ministers Li Gang (, 1083–1140), Li Guang (, 1078–1159), Zhao Ding (, 1085–1147, also known for his poetry), and Hu Quan (, 1102–1180). Each of the officials had been banished to Hainan Province after having fallen out of the court's favor and is now represented by a stone statue placed on the temple grounds. The Ancestral Hall of the Two Fubo Generals is dedicated to the two generals Lu Bode (, captured Hainan in 110 BC) of the
Western Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a war ...
and Ma Yuan (, 14 BC – 49 AD) of the
Eastern Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by th ...
. Both generals played important roles in establishing Chinese rule over Hainan and were recognized by their emperors with the honorary title "Fubo General" () for their achievements. The Sugong Temple is located to the southeast of the Temple of Five Lords. It commemorates Su Shi (), a renowned poet and statesman of the Song dynasty, who was also banished to Hainan. The temple is located near the administrative border between the City of Haikou and Qiongshan District, about 5 kilometers away from the city center of Haikou.


Five officials


Li Deyu (787–850)

Li Deyu () served as
chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...
() during the Tang dynasty. He was the leader and namesake of the Li faction during the Niu-Li Factional Struggles that pitted officials of humble and aristocratic origins against each other. Tang
Emperor Xuānzong Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (July 27, 810 – September 7, 859) (reigned April 25, 846 – September 7, 859) was an emperor in the latter part of the Tang dynasty of China. Personally named Li Yi, later renamed Li Chen (), and known before his re ...
ended the struggles by handing complete defeat to the Li faction, demoting Li Deyu and sending him to exile in Hainan, where he held the position of census officer at Yai Prefecture (modern Haikou) and remained until his death.


Li Gang (1083–1140)

Li Gang () was a government official who held the office of chancellor for a brief period (75 days) during final days of the
Northern Song dynasty Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a ...
. He was put in charge of the defense against the invading Jin dynasty by the young
Emperor Qinzong Emperor Qinzong of Song (23 May 1100 – 14 June 1161), personal name Zhao Huan, was the ninth emperor of the Song dynasty of China and the last emperor of the Northern Song dynasty. Emperor Qinzong was the eldest son and heir apparent of Empe ...
during the Jin-Song wars, but was removed from his post when the emperor was falsely hoping to enter peace negotiations with the Jin. The Northern Song dynasty fell in 1127 and Emperor Qinzong became a prisoner of the Jin dynasty for the rest of his life. Li Gang was released from exile and rehabilitated in 1129 and held various government offices in the Southern Song dynasty.


Li Guang (1078–1159)

Li Guang () was exiled to Qiongzhou (now Haikou) in Hainan in 1144.


Zhao Ding (1085–1147)

Zhao Ding () was a statesman and renowned poet of the Southern Song dynasty. He advocated attempts to recover territory lost to the Jin dynasty and committed suicide dying as a result of a hunger strike.


Hu Quan (1102–1180)

Hu Quan (). In 1148, during the rule of
Qin Hui Qin Hui or Qin Kuai (January 17, 1090 – November 18, 1155) was a Chinese politician. He was a Chancellor of the Song dynasty in Chinese history. He was a contemporary of Yue Fei during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Song. Modern historian ...
, he was exiled to Hainan. In 1155, after the death of Quin Hui, he was able to resume his duties.


References

{{Reflist Tourist attractions in Haikou Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Hainan Monuments and memorials in China