The Temple of Five Officials “五公祠” (Wugong Ci) is a memorial of five officials from the Tang and Song Dynasties located to the southeast of the city of Haikou on Hainan Island. 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.
The five officials commemorated at the temple encountered such a fate, after losing power struggles within the imperial court. They are the Tang chancellor Li Deyu (李德裕), and the four Song ministers Li Gang (李纲), Zhao Ding (赵鼎), Li Guang (李光), and Hu Quan (胡铨). They are represented by a stone statue in the temple ground.
Tang chancellor Li Deyu (李德裕), 787-850
Tang chancellor Li Deyu (李德裕), 787-850
Song Minister Li Gang (李纲), 1083-1140
Song Minister Li Gang (李纲), 1083-1140
Song Minister Zhao Ding (赵鼎), 1085-1147
Song Minister Zhao Ding (赵鼎), 1085-1147
Song Minister Li Guang (李光), 1077-1159
Song Minister Li Guang (李光), 1077-1159
Song Minister Hu Quan (胡铨), 1102-1180
Song Minister Hu Quan (胡铨), 1102-1180
The Temple of Five Officials was constructed during the reign of Emperor Wanli in the Ming Dynasty. After many years of renovation and development, this existing Temple of Five Officials is an attractive ancient architectural complex known for its sense of peace, tranquillity and beauty.
Along Haifu Road at the entrance to the Temple of Five Officials
I visited the Temple of Five Officials with my wife on 24 December 2014. We alighted from Bus No 37 at a bus stop on 169 Haifu Road, Qiongshan, in the city of Haikou on Hainan Province.
In this blog, we would like to share many photographs of this peaceful and beautiful temple taken during our tour there.
The ticketing booth
The entrance ticket. The entrance fee is 20 yuan.
The first tourist map at the entrance of the Temple of Five Officials
A close look at the tourist signage
A closer look at the tourist signage
A 五公祠 stone signage can be seen not too far from the entrance
The Ji Spring (济泉)
The Ji Spring (济泉)
A toilet, man at the top, woman on the ground floor.
An interesting motorbike spotted. Nothing to do with the Temple of Five Officials.
Walking into the Temple of Five Officials
Along the walkway
Along the walkway
The Sugong Ancestral Hall (蘇公祠)
The Sugong Ancestral Hall (蘇公祠)
Navigational Map of the Temple of Five Officials (五公祠古迹区导览图)
Inside Sugong Ancestral Hall (蘇公祠内)
Inside Sugong Ancestral Hall (蘇公祠内)
Inside Sugong Ancestral Hall (蘇公祠内)
Inside Sugong Ancestral Hall (蘇公祠内)
The temple’s main building is the Five Lords Ancestral Hall. It is a red two-storey wooden building. A historical inscription on a board over the front entrance on the second floor of this building declares it as “海南第一楼”, the “first building in Hainan”. This building was constructed to commemorate the five officials. The five stone statues of these officials are housed around this hall.
The Five Lords Ancestral Hall (五公祠)
The Five Lords Ancestral Hall (五公祠)
The Five Lords Ancestral Hall (五公祠). The second floor declares it as “海南第一楼”, the “First Building in Hainan”.
On the second floor of the Five Lords Ancestral Hall (五公祠)
A carving on the wall of the second floor of the Five Lords Ancestral Hall (五公祠).
Around the Five Lords Ancestral Hall (五公祠). The stone statue of Li Deyu (李德裕), and the Guanjia Pavilion (观稼堂) in the background.
Around the Five Lords Ancestral Hall (五公祠). The stone statue of Hu Quan (胡铨) standing in front of the Xuepu Hall (学圃堂) in the background.
The Guanjia Hall (观稼堂)
The Guanjia Pavilion (观稼堂)
The stone statues of Li Guang (李光) and Hu Quan (胡铨) in the background.
Around the Five Lords Ancestral Hall (五公祠). The West Hall (西斋) also known as 五公精舍, and the stone statues of Zhao Ding (赵鼎) and Li Guang (李光) in the background.
The stone statues of Zhao Ding (赵鼎), Li Guang (李光) and Hu Quan (胡铨) in the background.
Carambola/Star Fruit Tree (杨桃树)
One of the thriving trees planted in the Temple of Five Officials is a carambola (star fruit) tree just beside the stone statue of Li Deyu (李德裕).
Carambola/Star Fruit Tree (杨桃树)
Carambola/Star Fruit Tree (杨桃树)
The East Hall (东斋) is located to the right of the Five Lords Ancestral Hall (五公祠).
An ancient chair and study table inside the East Hall (东斋).
An ancient bed inside the East Hall (东斋).
The ancient bed, chair and study table.
The Revered Five Officials Tablets Corridor (五公碑廊)
The Revered Five Officials Tablets Corridor (五公碑廊)
Exiting the Five Lords Ancestral Hall (五公祠), we come to the Sugong Ancestral Hall (苏公祠). This hall was built to commemorate Su Dongpo, an outstanding poet and writer in the Song Dynasty. He was suppressed and sent into exile in Hainan in 1097.
While in Hainan, he directed the local people to dig two springs when he heard that the people were finding it difficult to get water supplies. The wells were later named “Fu Su Spring” and a pavilion was named as “Dong Zhou Pavilion” (泂酌亭).
The Sugong Ancestral Hall (苏公祠). On the left is the entrance to the Five Lords Ancestral Hall (五公祠). On the right is the entrance to the Two Fupo Temple (两伏波祠), Dong Zhou Pavilion (泂酌亭), and Song Hui Zong Yu Zhi Bei (宋徵宗御制碑).
The Sugong Ancestral Hall (苏公祠)
The Sugong Ancestral Hall (苏公祠)
I was caught by two big trees on each side in front of the Sugong Ancestral Hall. The signage reads “鸡蛋花树”. When literally translated, it means that two trees are “Chicken Egg Flower Tree”. Actually, the trees are simply “frangipani”.
鸡蛋花树 literally translates as Chicken Egg Flower Tree.
The Dongpo Academy (东坡书院)
The Fusu Spring (浮粟泉)
The Fusu Spring (浮粟泉)
Fusu Spring (浮粟泉) is First Spring of Hainan (海南第一泉).
Exiting the Sugong Ancestral Hall to the right, we enter into the Ancestral Hall of the Two Fupo Generals, namely Lu Bode and Ma Yuan. This hall was built to commemorate their heroic achievements.
Around the Ancestral Hall of the Two Fupo Generals (两伏波祠内)
Walking up the stairway and to the back of the Ancestral Hall of the Two Fupo Generals, you will find a Bronze Buddha temple and the Five Officials’ Temple. You can also find the Youxian Cave, literally means the “wandering immortal cave”.
The Bronze Buddha (铜佛)
The Bronze Buddha (铜佛)
Statues of the Five Officials inside the temple
Youxian Cave (遊仙洞), literally the “wandering immortal cave”
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Charlie Heng 