User:Immanuelle/Puxi Fushou Palace
| Fushou Palace (Mingjiao Wenfo Ancestral Hall) | |
|---|---|
 Exterior view of Fushou Palace | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Mingjiao (Manichaeism) Taoism, Fujian folk beliefs |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Immovable Cultural Relic of Taijiang District |
| Location | |
| Location |  People's Republic of China Fujian Province Fuzhou Taijiang District Yizhou Subdistrict Puxi Village No. 6-1 |
| Geographic coordinates | 26°03′46.9″N 119°17′23.21″E / 26.063028°N 119.2897806°E |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Gongmiao |
Fushou Palace[1], also known as Puxi Fushou Palace[2], Fuzhou Fushou Palace[3], and formerly Mingjiao Wenfo Ancestral Hall[4], is located in Puxi Community, Yizhou Subdistrict, Taijiang District, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China. It is the only surviving Manichaean building in Fuzhou and is known as a "living fossil of Manichaean culture." It is currently an immovable cultural relic of Taijiang District, Fuzhou.[5]
History[change | change source]
The Mingjiao Wenfo Ancestral Hall was built during the Song Dynasty and has undergone numerous restorations and relocations over the years.[2] According to the Wanli edition of the Funing Prefecture Gazetteer, the Mingjiao Wenfo Ancestral Hall was constructed to honor the Manichaean patriarch Lin Deng, who prayed for rain in Min County during the Northern Song Dynasty's Jiayou era.[6] Due to the historical prohibition of Manichaeism in China (especially during the Ming Dynasty), local followers of the Xiao clan superficially converted to Taoism, venerating other Taoist and folk deities to secretly protect the Manichaean Wenfo deity.[4] Prior to 1997, the ancestral hall was located at the site of the current Fuzhou MSG Factory. It was relocated to its present site in Puxi in 1997 due to factory construction.[7] Due to unclear religious attributes, the hall was renamed "Fushou Palace" in 1998 to provide it with a legal religious status and was incorporated into the Taoist temple system of Fuzhou.[8] In the early 2000s, due to insufficient evidence, there was significant academic controversy over the religious identity of Fushou Palace.[2][1] It wasn't until after the discovery and study of the Xiapu Manichaean documents in 2008 that the religious identity of Fushou Palace was confirmed to be Manichaean (Mingjiao). It is the best-preserved and most fully equipped Manichaean temple to date.[5][9]
Mingjiao Wenfo Ancestral Hall has a branch hall located in Shisha Natural Village, Shangjie Town, Minhou County. This hall was established over 200 years ago by local followers' ancestors from the ancestral hall and enshrines the same two main deities as the ancestral hall.[7][10]
Architecture[change | change source]
The original site of the Mingjiao Wenfo Ancestral Hall, before 1997, faced east to west, in line with Manichaean veneration of the west. It covered an area of 3.5 mu (approx. 2,333 square meters), with a building area of 2 mu (approx. 1,333 square meters), including the main hall, auxiliary halls, an opera stage, a wine gallery, a kitchen, and a garden.[9]
The current site of Puxi Fushou Palace covers an area of over 900 square meters and faces north to south. The main building covers 742.6 square meters, with a depth of 22.6 meters, a width of 14.7 meters, and a height of 10 meters.[9] The main hall is primarily used for worshipping the two main deities enshrined: the Mingjiao Wenfo, based on Mani, and the Daoist Zhenjun, based on the Fujian Mingjiao patriarch Lin Deng. To the left and right of the main deity are Zhang Zhenjun and the True Warrior Emperor (Zhenwu Dadi), along with thirty-six protector gods. Additionally, Fushou Palace has three side halls dedicated to Lady Linshui, Huaguang, and the Great King, enshrining Lady Linshui, Emperor Huaguang, and the Great Kings Huang and Zhao.[2]
Deity System[change | change source]
Fushou Palace enshrines various deities from Manichaeism, Taoism, Buddhism, and local folk beliefs, making it the only Manichaean temple with a comprehensive and ongoing incense tradition.[2]
Main Deities[change | change source]
The main deities of Fushou Palace are the Mingjiao Wenfo and Daoist Zhenjun (also known as Doshi Zhenjun), representing the Manichaean main deity Mani (216–274 AD) and the Xiapu Manichaean patriarch Lin Deng (1003–1059 AD).[2]
In earlier studies, scholars like Li Linzhou concluded, through field investigations, that Mingjiao Wenfo in Fushou Palace was identical to the Manichaean deity Mani, while Daoist Zhenjun was a Manichaean priest.[4] This hypothesis was challenged by scholars like Lin Wushu, who argued that Mingjiao Wenfo should be interpreted as a deity good at teaching and overseeing literary affairs, while Daoist Zhenjun should be linked to the Xiao clan, the builders of Fushou Palace.[1]
The discovery of Xiapu Manichaean documents between 2008 and 2009 provided clearer insights into the identities of the two main deities.[11] The patterns, decorations, and mural elements of Mingjiao Wenfo closely resemble those of Xiapu Manichaean artifacts, particularly the sun motif on Wenfo's head, which is absent in other Fuzhou Taoist temples but present in Xiapu Manichaean sculptures. This evidence supports that Mingjiao Wenfo belongs to the Xiapu Manichaean system.[3] While most scholars agree that Mingjiao Wenfo is the Manichaean deity Mani,[2][1][4] other theories suggest Wenfo could be a "Wenfo Messenger" or related to the "Shakyamuni Buddha" or "Shizhou Wenfo" mentioned in Xiapu documents.[3][9]
The term "Doshi" appears frequently in Xiapu documents such as "Prayers for Rain" and "Mingmen's First Transmission Request for Master," referring to Lin Deng. The "Manichaean Secret Feeding Ritual" directly names Lin Deng as "Lingxiang Doshi Four-Nine Zhenjun." Other references in Xiapu genealogies and the writings of Lin Deng's descendants confirm Lin Deng's identity as a key figure in Xiapu Manichaeism. Therefore, Fushou Palace's main deities are identified as part of the Xiapu Manichaean system.[3][9][10]
Main Hall Accompanying Deities[change | change source]
In the main hall, the north wall (where the main deities are enshrined) has accompanying deities Zhang Sheng Zhenjun and Xuantian Shangdi on the west and east sides, respectively. Both are figures from Taoism.[2]
Zhang Sheng Zhenjun (also known as Zhang Zhenjun or Zhang Shengjun) is the Lord of Thunder in Thirty-Three Heavens, originating from Yongtai, a disciple of Lu Shan Sect founder Xu Zhenjun. According to local villagers, Lin Deng studied Taoist methods transmitted by Xu Zhenjun at Mount Lu. Xiapu documents also mention information related to the Lu Shan Sect. Zhang Sheng Zhenjun's role as the Thunder Lord aligns with Lin Deng's title "Dongtian All-Thunder Messenger," highlighting his connection to Zhang Sheng Zhenjun.[2] Existing temples dedicated to Zhang Sheng Zhenjun in Fuzhou include Zhang Sheng Zhenjun Ancestral Hall[12][13] (located in Minqing County) and the Fujian Provincial Cultural Heritage Site Zhang Zhenjun Ancestral Hall (located in Taijiang District).[14]
Xuantian Shangdi, referred to as "Northern True Martial Bodhisattva" or "True Martial Great Sage" in Xiapu documents, is a Taoist figure from the Xuanwu Sect. He is the eighty-second transformation of Taishang Laojun and one of the four major protector gods of Taoism (along with the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Vermilion Bird). In typical Taoist temples, figures from the Lu Shan Sect and Xuanwu Sect do not coexist. However, Fushou Palace enshrines both, reflecting Manichaean temples' reliance on but distinction from Taoism.[2]
Three Halls and One Pavilion[change | change source]
Fushou Palace has four side halls. On the left is the Hall of Lady Linshui, and on the right are the Pavilion of Guanyin, the Hall of Huaguang, and the Hall of the Great King. According to old stone inscriptions in the palace, the original site of Fushou Palace had Yulin Palace (dedicated to Lady Linshui) and the Great King Hall, while the Pavilion of Guanyin and the Hall of Huaguang were added later. These side halls enshrine deities from Buddhism and Taoism.[2]
Notes[change | change source]
See Also[change | change source]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lin Wushu (2004). "Analysis of the Religious Attributes of Fushou Palace, Puxi, Fuzhou". Sun Yat-sen University Journal (Social Science Edition) (06): 118-123. ISSN 1000-9639.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Peng Xiaojing; Yang Fuxue (2016). "Research on the Manichaean Deities of Fushou Palace, Fuzhou". World Religious Studies (03): 118-128. ISSN 1000-4289.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Lin Zizhou (2016). "Comparative Study of Manichaean Artifacts between Xiapu and Fuzhou Fushou Palace". Shihezi University Journal (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition) (06). Shihezi: 33-39. doi:10.13880/j.cnki.cn65-1210/c.20161221.010. ISSN 1671-0304.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Li Linzhou (2004). "Important Manichaean Site in Fuzhou: Fushou Palace in Taijiang Yizhou, Fuzhou". Fujian Religion (01): 43-44.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Taijiang Puxi Fushou Palace Confirmed as Manichaean Temple Ruins". China Network Television (in Chinese). 2012-05-09. Archived from the original on 2021-10-21. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ↑ Ru Jie (2010-04-29). "Revealing Significant Discoveries of Xiapu Manichaeism". Mindong Daily (in Chinese).
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Chen Yizhou; Tu Yuanji (2004). "Study of Manichaean Temple Sites in Fujian". Maritime History Research (01). Quanzhou: 75-83. ISSN 1006-8384.
- ↑ Fuzhou Local Chronicles Compilation Committee (2017). Fuzhou Annals (1995-2005). Beijing: Local Chronicles Publishing House. p. 826. ISBN 978-7-5034-9649-3.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Yang Fuxue; Li Xiaoyan; Peng Xiaojing (2017). "Main Findings from the Investigation of Fujian Manichaean Sites". Religious Studies (04). Chengdu: 259-271. ISSN 1006-1312.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Yang Fuxue (2014). "Lin Deng and His Place in the History of Chinese Manichaeism". Chinese Historical Studies (in Chinese) (01). Beijing: 109-124. ISSN 1002-7963.
- ↑ Wen Hailong (2009-11-17). "Fushou Palace and its Close Relationship with Mingjiao". Fuzhou Daily (in Chinese).
- ↑ "Natural Geography". Minqing County People's Government. 2023-06-27. Archived from the original on 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ↑ Yu Liyuan. "Changes and Adaptations of Traditional Deity Beliefs in Contemporary Times: A Case Study of Zhang Shengjun Belief in Jindao Hall, Minqing, Fujian". World Religious Culture (02). Beijing: 78-81. ISSN 1007-6255.
- ↑ Fujian Provincial People's Government (2009-11-16). "Notification of the Fujian Provincial People's Government on the Announcement of the Seventh Batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites and Protection Ranges (Minzheng Wen [2009] No. 375)". Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
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