Korea Will Rebuild Guandi Temple to Bring “Chinese God of Wealth”

Comprehensive news of World Guangong Culture Website: according to Global Times: there was a Guandi Temple in Seoul, which was located along Cheonggyecheon Stream out of East Gate. Times have passed and circumstances have changed. The Guandi Temple was left unused for many years, and many stalls gathered there. To attract Chinese tourists, Korean government decided to rebuild Guandi Temple, to bring “Chinese god of wealth”.

The Guandi Temple in Seoul is commonly referred to as East Temple. According to records, during Chosun Dynasty, there were four Guandi temples separately out of east gate, west gate, south gate and north gate in the capital Hanyang, and the central temple was in the center of the city. From the layout of five Guandi temples, we can understand how people worshiped Guan Yu at that time. Among the five temples, east temple and south temple were larger than others. However, due to warfare, the other four temples were destroyed, only leaving east temple. The main hall of east temple sits on north and faces to south, and two idle buildings are built on its east and west side. Guan Yu statue and other statues are in the temple called as “holy temple”, and the plaques of “awe-inspiring righteousness”, “eternal perfect man”, “eternal personal loyalty” and “eternal fidelity” are placed in the temple.  

Guandi Temple in Seoul of Korea    photographed by Zhu Zhengming

Guangong consecrated at Guandi Temple in Seoul, Korea  photographed by Zhu Zhengming

Times have passed and circumstances have changed. Western culture is predominant now;   confucianist culture is not valued. Less Koreans come to east temple to worship Guangong. With the rise of china and increase of Chinese tourists, Korean tourism culture departments get interest in Guangong Temple once again. They plan to rebuild east temple, and develop it to be a tourism spot which can attract Chinese tourists. In this way, Guangong will surely become the Koreans’ god of wealth.