The ancient city of Jingzhou: Taiwan Sacrificial Temple to the God of War found its roots in Guan Yu Temple

News from World Guangong Culture Website: According to China News Agency (reported by Cao Xufeng), ceremony for Taiwan Sacrificial Temple to the God of War to found its roots in Guan Yu Temple in Jingzhou, Hubei province was held on December 20.
 Head of pilgrims of Sacrificial Temple to the God of War in Tainan and consultant Lin Bingnan blended the incense ash from Sacrificial Temple to the God of War with the ash from Guan Yu Temple that day and enshrined it in the hall. Mr. Lin Bingnan and scholars studying Guan Gong culture like Mr. He Jinrong, Miss Huang Qiuyan, and Mr. He Shimin burned incenses to Guan Yu at the hall with tears covering their faces. The Pilgrimage group also collected the soil from Guan Yu Temple in Xiejia Mountain and brought it back to Taiwan temple for worship. 
“Over the past 25 years, we have been looking for the origin of Sacrificial Temple to the God of War and also searching in Dongshan Island in Fujian but no clue was found. Now the Sacrificial Temple to the God of War finally ‘finds its roots’ after many experts and scholars in Taiwan found much historical information and invited the mainland scholars to help study.” Lin Bingnan said excitedly. 
Tainan Sacrificial Temple to the God of War has a history of over 350 years and is one of the oldest Guan Yu Temple in Taiwan. It is the only historic site classified grade one among the more than 700 Guan Yu Temples, said Mr. Zhu Zhengming, a scholar who had gone to Taiwan to study the Guan Yu culture for five times.
 “Sacrificial Temple to the God of War only opened to the official for sacrifice in spring and autumn before. It was officially opened to the public in 1991. However, where its origin is is not clear” said Lin Bingnan. The secret of where Guan Yu Temple originated was unveiled later after the discovery of Jiangling County Annals in Qing dynasty published by Taiwan found by the professor of National University of Tainan Chen Weihua, Tainan Gudu radio host Liu Caini, associate professor of Fudan University Wang Gang and other scholars, and the founding of Jingzhou Prefecture Topography in Ming with the help of president of Taiwan China Taoism Promotion Association Chen Zhansong, vice president of the World Guangong Culture Association Zhu Zhengming, the vice executive chairman of CPPCC of Jingzhou city Luo Qingyang and others. The two books recorded in detail about the Guan Yu Temple in Xiejia Mountain in Jingzhou. 

Taiwan pilgrims watching the model of the ancient city Jing Zhou in Guan Yu Temple 

Guan Gong enshrined in the hall of Guan Gong Temple in Jingzhou 

Mr. Lin Bingnan (left), consultant of Taiwan Sacrificial Temple to the God of War, meeting with Liu Yudong (right), consultant of Jingzhou Guan Yu Temple Management Committee, with a firm handshake

Taiwan pilgrimage group was worshiping Guan Yu’s Red Hare in the Guan Yu Temple 

Head of Taiwan pilgrimage group Lin Bingnan blends incense ash from the two places together in the hall of Jingzhou Guan Yu Temple 

Taiwan pilgrimage group from Sacrificial Temple to the God of War was burning incenses to their roots at the hall of Jingzhou Guan Yu Temple with tears covering their faces 

Guan Yu icon enshrined in the Tainan Sacrificial Temple to the God of War 

Director of Guan Yu Temple Management Committee Liu Yan (right) is communicating with pilgrims of Sacrificial Temple to the God of War the Guan Yu culture across the strait　

Director of Jingzhou Guan Yu Temple Management Committee Liu Yan said that this successful “tracing” is of great importance to the development of Jingzhou Guan Yu culture and has positive significance to the cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Hubei. (Photographed by Zhu Zhengming)