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The Relocation of Zhang Fei’s Temple Zhu and Li

1. INTRODUCTION artworks in China. The Temple is also reputed
In the 1990s, the Three Gorges Dam project as an “impressive scenery of the Bashu area”
is the second largest water conservancy for its harmonious unity of architecture and
[1]
project in the world after the Aswan Dam environment . There was once a British
in Egypt. Many of the Chinese ancient traveler who described the scene of General
relics alone the Yangtze River would be Zhang Fei’s Temple as “pretty a picture
underwater. Zhang Fei’s Temple with of Eastern scenery as I have ever seen” 1
plenty of traditional buildings is one of [Figure 2].
them, which is a magnificent monument There is an impressive legend passed
for General Zhang Fei from 2000 years ago on by the local people from generation
(Han Dynasty). As a National Protected to generation about the origin of General
Monument, General Zhang Fei’s Temple Zhang Fei’s Temple. As most Chinese
relocation project became one of the biggest know, the classic historical fiction novel
[2]
heritage conservation events in China. From The Romance of the Three Kingdoms
October 8, 2002 ‒ July 17, 2003, the moving is very popular and widespread in Asia,
of General Zhang Fei’s Temple has been which is based on Chinese history of the
completed successfully with the wide care Three Kingdoms era in late Han dynasty
of the Chinese society. This article makes about 2000 years ago. The Romance of the
a review about this important event and Three Kingdoms is a rolling panorama of
discusses the conservation works during the human loyalty, honor, passion, and ambition 2
monument’s relocation process [Figure 1]. written by Luo Guanzhong (c. 1330‒1400)
Located at the south bank of the Yangtze in the Ming dynasty, which has a far-
River in Yun-yang town, 359 km away from reaching impact in Asian countries. General
Chongqing City, General Zhang Fei’s Temple Zhang Fei is one of the most famous heroes
was built in memory of a famous general who in the novel for his bravery and loyalty
lived in almost 2000 years ago during the to his friends. He assisted the two sworn
Three Kingdoms Period in the Han dynasty brothers, General Guan Yu and Emperor
(206 BCE‒220 CE). It is one of the well- Liu Bei, to establish the Kingdom of Shu.
known sceneries for tourists who travel in According to historical records, General
the Three Gorges. As an ancient architectural Zhang Fei was short-tempered and easily-
complex, in 2001, General Zhang Fei’s angry. He was killed by two traitors in
Temple was listed as a National Protected Langzhong city, Sichuan Province. They
Monument by the Chinese Government. cut off the general’s head while he was
Many famous poems, inscriptions, wood asleep and went along the Yangtze River
carvings, and paintings are preserved in this to surrender to the enemy kingdom of Wu.
Temple，such as the wooden carvings of On the way, they heard that State Wu was
“zheng zuo wei tie”( 争座位贴 ) written by going to resume diplomatic relations with
Yan Zhenqing （颜真卿 , 709‒785）in the Shu, and hurriedly dumped the General’s
Tang dynasty, and the famous calligraphic head in the Yangtze River. According to old
work “chu shi biao” ( 出师表 ) written by legend in Yunyang Town, Zhang Fei’s head
3
General Yue Fei ( 岳飞 , 1103‒1142) in the was caught by fishermen from the River .
Song dynasty, are regarded as very precious The local ancestors buried the General’s

1 Little, Archibald John, Through the Yang-tse gorges, London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Riving ton,
1888. p163~p164. “…the whole forming a scene, which would make as pretty a picture of Eastern scenery as I
have ever seen.”
（Ming) Luo Guanzhong, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Tianjin: Tianjin Ancient Books Publishing
House, 1994
3 Sun Hua. A brief study of Zhang Huanhou Temple in Yunyang, Chongqing—also on the pros and cons of
Zhang Huanhou Temple's relocation and protection [J]. Changjiang Civilization, 2008(02):8-19.

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