Presidents of Guangong culture association from six provinces and districts search for loyalty culture of Guangong on the plateau of Silk Road

News from World Guangong Culture Net: in the early to middle September, Chinese photographer Zhu Zhengming led the presidents of Guangong culture associations and entrepreneurs from the six provinces and districts of Hunan, Hubei, Fujian, Qinghai, Gansu and Hong Kong to search for and inherit the loyalty and righteousness culture of Guangong in China on the plateau of Silk Road. They visited 13 cultural relics and Guandi halls in six days and were deeply touched by the cultural customs of Guangong along the Silk Road.

Guan Jingwu, vice chairman of Qinghai Youth Federation, at the donated Gugong statue in the hall of god of wealth at the top of Nanshan in Xining city

Members of delegation include Xu Moujing, President of Sino-Philippine Guandi charity foundation and Hong Kong businessman; Wang Xiehui, executive president of Hunan Changsha Guangong Association; Zhou Tong, brand director of Hunan red-faced Guangong; Guan Hongbo, Hubei Yichang police officer and president of Yichang Guangong Culture Research Association; Liu Songwang, vice president of African Chamber of Commerce of Hubei; Xu Wenlong, chairman of Fujian Wenlong Weaving; and Chen Xingyang, general manager of Fujian Zhonghai Group, Guan Ruilin, President of Qinghai Guangong Culture Promotion Association, Guan Hongwu, consultant of Gansu Guanshi clan association, etc. There were all together 12 members.

The delegation presented the statue of Guandi to Chairman Guan Jingwu. From left: Liu Songwang, Guan Ruilin, Guan Jingwu, Xu Moujing, Guan Hongbo, Zhu Zhengming, Wang Xiehui

Statues of Guandi worshipped in Baoan ancient city

 ●Guangong sentiment of Guoba, an old Tibetan man in Baoan ancient city

On the morning of the second day upon the arrival at the plateau of Silk Road, Zhu Zhengming and his suite headed south for 160 kilometers along the Yellow Rive and arrived at Baoan ancient city in Tongren County, which is more than 2300 meters above sea level and is a national historical and cultural city with a long history. Amidst the mountains of the ancient city, there is a newly restored Guandi hall. Guandi temple in the ancient city was built in 1761. Now, the old man Guoba guards the hall of Guangong all day long, burns incense and delivers water for the Chinese and Tibetan compatriots who come to worship, while maintaining a neat environment. He is busy yet cheerful all day long.

In front of Guandi hall in Baoan ancient city, the guests presented old man Guoba with cultural gifts such as digital movie projector, the monograph Tracing Guangong all over the world and Guangong Thangka, so that Guoba could use the latest scientific and technological products and the latest cultural monograph to publicize the loyalty and righteousness culture of Guangong to the local people

●On the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, there is a mountain named after Guandi

Starting from Xining, a drive of more than 30 kilometers north would take people to a big mountain stretching on the plateau. This mountain, 2928 meters above sea level, is located in Datong Hui and Tu Autonomous County, and named after Guangong - "Guandi Master Mountain".

"Guandi Master Mountain" is named after Guangong, in Datong Hui and Tu Autonomous County 

The Guangong statue, in front of Guandi temple in the Master mountain, is clustered with piles of galsang flowers.

In the Guandi Hall of Master mountain, the visiting delegation paid tribute to Guangong by burning incense

Plaque on the gate of Guandi Master Mountain in Datong County

At the foot of the mountain, having gathered everyone together, the accompanying TV reporter Xiong Fujiang flied the drone and to display the banner of "Tracing Guangong all over the world" and the whole Guandi Master Mountain, which was shot into a beautiful video.

Zhu Zhengming, head of the delegation, presented the photo Chinese Guandi of the globe converges on the roof of the world to Mr. Guan Hongwu (left), consultant of Guan clan in Gansu Province

Shanxi-Shannxi guild hall of Xining

Zhu Zhengming and his suite ascended Guandi Master Mountain. In front of Guandi hall, a statue of Guandi, about 7 meters high, stood there overlooking the ancient city of Datong. In the hall of Guandi stood a calm and amiable Guandi statue reading the Spring and Autumn Annals in serenity on the shrine. Guan Ping and Zhou Cang stood on both sides. Above the shrine, rows of butter lamps were flickering with auspicious light. Hada, butter flowers, flowers and fruits presented by various ethnic groups make the whole hall cozy and joyous.

Guangong worshipped in Guandi temple, Duoba Town, Huangzhong District, Xining

Putu, the senior Taoist priest of Guandi Master Mountain, made introduction to us, "15 temples and halls remained in Master Mountain, and they were built initially during Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties with illustrious cultural relic value. The flower gathering and mountain-worshiping gathering on June 6^th of lunar calendar are grand occasion and have been listed as national intangible cultural heritages. I have been living 13 years in Master Mountain into which my life is blended already!" on the ancient Silk Road, a mountain on the plateau is named after Chinese Guandi, which embodies the profound influence of Guangong among ethnic minorities.

Guangong in the dining hall of Danger ancient town, Huangyuan County, Qinghai Province

In front of Guandi temple on the Master Mountain, there are layered spruce, upright rose willow and overlapped galsang flowers blossoming freely...

●A statue of Guangong carved out of populus euphratica has become the magnet attracting many people to take photo with it

On the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, rising more than 3000 meters above sea level, Zhuoma, a Tibetan girl, held up a statue of Guangong carved from populus euphratica together with the delegation

The delegation continued the tracing on the plateau. Zhu Zhengming found a statue of Guangong carved out from populus euphratica. Zhu Zhengming knew that it takes three thousand years to grow old for this populus euphratica tree; even if it is old, it will stand there for three thousand years; even if it falls down, it will be immortal for three thousand years! This proud and majestic populus euphratica displays the indomitable noble character of the Chinese nation! Guangong, carved by artists of plateau on Silk Road with populus euphratica wood, is exceedingly valuable! Zhu Zhengming held this statue of Guandi in hand, valuing it as a treasure.

Guan Hongbo, President of Yichang Guangong Culture Research Association, holds up the statue of Guangong carved out from populus euphratica wood

While colorful prayer flags were fluttering at the holy land on the plateau of 4000 meter in altitude, Tibetan girl Zhuoma held the Guandong statue of populus euphratica wood high with delegation members gathered around guarding Guandi. Behind them are the mysterious and colorful prayer flags of the plateau as well as azure sky and floating cloud. All the people prayed quietly for 2021, wishing that there would be less disasters and more blessings in the world, and loyalty and righteousness would pass on generation after generation and majestic China would be blessed with luck and warmth. 

After that, delegation members held the Guandi statue of populus euphratica in turn for taking a photo on the top of the colorful Danxia Mountain and Jiayuguan, expressing their belief in Guandi and the inheritance of the loyalty and righteousness culture of Guandi.

   ●In Zhangye on the Silk Road, people sing the song of "Fight to win" from the south of Fujian

The delegation headed northwest crossing the Qilian to arrive at the historical Hexi Corridor at the foot of the Qilian Mountains. In spite of the arduous journey, everyone was in high spirits. In Zhangye, an important town along the ancient Silk Road, they visited the Shanxi guild hall, which was built in the second year of Yongzhen in Qing dynasty (1724 A.D.) and is a key cultural relic protection unit in China. In front of the guild hall, they presented to deputy curator Zhang Jinduo the photographic work of Chinese Guandi of the globe converges on the roof of the world. Curator Zhang introduced the past history and present situation of Shanxi guild hall to the guests in detail.

Shanxi guild hall in Zhangye, an important town along the ancient Silk Road, with layers of eaves overlapped in the air

The next day, the delegation drove out of the city, along the 312 National Road to the west for more than 10 kilometers, and arrived at Guandi temple of GuanZhai village in Zhangye. It is 1390 meters above sea level, surrounded by green willows and white poplars with boundless field of sorghum, which resembled the shooting site of the Red Sorghum. Further away was the expanse of pure white snow on the top of Qilian Mountain.

Shanxi guild hall of Zhangye

Guan Feng, the director of Guandi temple in GuanZhai village, told us that Guandi temple was originally built in the late Qing Dynasty. Seven or eight years ago, Guan Chaomin, his son who worked as a salesman in Zhangye, sponsored more than 4 million yuan to rebuild Guandi temple. The son has constructed the temple and the father manages it, which is really harmonious and perfect. Every year, there is a three-day ceremony on May 13 of the lunar calendar. On June 24 of the lunar calendar, there is celebration for the sacred birth of Guandi, which is full of clamor and fanfare and has become a multi-ethnic carnival.

Guandi worshiped in the Shanxi guild hall of Zhangye

That night in Zhangye, everyone was exhilarated at the talking of Guandi culture on the Silk Road and the Guandi spirit. Initiated by Xu Moujing, the businessman from Hongkong, all started to sing the song of "Fight to win" from the south of Fujian province, and the singing lingered on the old path of Silk Road.

At the Shanxi guild hall in Zhangye, members of the delegation were bathed in sunset

At this sight, director Guan Ruilin proposed that for the promotion of the vicissitudes and grandness of the Silk Road of Qinghai-Tibet plateau, a "International travel society of Guangong culture" be established to organize friends from home and abroad to trace and visit sites of Guangong along the plateau of Silk Road.

Guandi temple in Zhangye is surrounded by an endless expanse of red sorghum

Guan Feng, director of the Management Committee of Guandi temple in Zhangye, introduced the past history and present situation of the temple to the delegation. From left: Wang Xiehui, Guan Feng, Xu Moujing, Zhu Zhengming

    ●At Jiayuguan, the end of the great wall of Ming dynasty, the delegation took a group photo with masks on, praying for a lucky and smooth year 2021

The imposing Jiayuguan, which overlooks the stretching and snow-capped Qilian mountain in the south and is perched against the boundless Gobi desert in the north, is the end of the Great Wall of Ming dynasty, which spans more than 12000 kilometers. Built in the fifth year of Hongwu of Ming Dynasty (1372 A.D.), it is a masterpiece of Taizu emperor of Zhu family. Presently the remaining buildings in the fortress include Guandi temple, theater, Wenchang Pavilion, guerrilla general's office, etc.

The Guandi Temple of Jiayuguan, built in the first year of Zhengde of Ming Dynasty (1506 AD), is located at the bottom of Dongcheng building. Opposite the hall, the theatre is perched against the south while faces north, overlooking the temple. High above the theatre hung plaques such as "Great Wall dominates", "Righteousness of the heaven and the earth", and "Heroic spirit prevails over mountains and rivers".

The plague of "Righteousness of the heaven and the earth" in the Guandi Temple of Jiayuguan

Seen from Jiayuguan, in the south of the city, the snow peaks of Qilian mountain are pure white; in the north of the city, the dark hills of Gobi loom in silence; in the east of the city, the industrial and tourism new town boasts clear visibility; in the west are the crisscrossing Lanzhou-Wulumuqi high-speed railway and the expressway extending all the way to the horizon. The northwestern part of China is infinite and lofty with a desolate and unconstrained aura, galvanizing people with an upbeat and striving power.

Guangong worshipped in the Guandi Temple of Jiayuguan

In front of the Guandi hall of Jiayuguan, Zhu Zhengming and his suite presented the monograph Tracing Guangong all over the world to Yu Chunrong, vice president of Great Wall Culture Research Institute of Jiayuguan, and presented the book Chinese Guandi of the globe converges on the roof of the world to Zha Xiwen, general manager of Jiayuguan Fortress scenic spot. The delegation, together with Wang Yutai, deputy director of the United Front Work Department of Jiayuguan municipal Party committee and Dai Ye, deputy director of the Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, with masks put on, took a group photo with "Tracing Guangong all over the world" banner, commemorating the unforgettable 2020 and praying for the auspicious 2021.

Photographer Zhu Zhengming presented the work Chinese Guandi of the globe converges on the roof of the world to Zha Xiwen, general manager of Jiayuguan Fortress

On Jiayuguan, they also displayed the pottery image of Guan Gong in Song Dynasty, which is the earliest image of Guan Gong in China.

   ●Standing on the plateau of the Silk Road, the presidents expressed their profound sentiments

In the desert of plateau, the members of the delegation were exited with enthusiasm and exclamation.

In front of the Guandi Hall of Jiayuguan, the delegation, together with the relevant leaders of Jiayuguan municipal Party committee and government, wore masks and unfolded the banner of "Tracing Guangong all over the world" to commemorate the unforgettable 2020 and wish for an auspicious 2021

Zhu Zhengming, former director of the overseas center of the United Front Work Department of the Hubei provincial Party committee and a scholar of Guangong culture, said, "I was in the river city during 2020. This is the first time that I will go out of Wuhan and take off my mask outdoors. The ancient Silk Road is vast and lofty, and energizing! Guan Gong is the moral idol of the ancient Chinese Silk Road and the spokesman of the core values of the new era. Recently, when President Xi Jinping visited Shanxi, he stressed the importance of ‘promoting the loyalty and righteousness culture of Guan Gong' and rejuvenate the spirit of Guan Gong." 

On Jiayuguan fortress, the delegation displayed the pottery image of Guan Gong in Song Dynasty, which is the earliest image of Guan Gong in the world

Xu Moujing, a Hong Kong businessman and President of Sino-Philippine Guandi Charity Foundation, said, "My hometown Quanzhou is the starting point of the maritime Silk Road. When I return back in the southern of Fujian, we need to contact more friends and do more good deeds, so that the maritime Silk Road would resonate with the land silk road from afar! "

Hunan Changsha Guangong association is the one with the most youngsters in China. Executive president Wang Xiehui said, "The pilgrimage and communication of this visit to the plateau of Silk Road is exceedingly impressive for me. Guan Gong culture is an excellent traditional culture that transcends time and space, boundaries of countries, harmonizes the nation with ever-lasting aura. It derives from the same origin as the socialist core values, bearing significance of the era. "

The delegation climbed the end of the great wall of Ming Dynasty: Jiayuguan precipitous wall. From left: Hubei entrepreneur Liu Songwang, Fujian entrepreneur Chen Xingyang, Fujian entrepreneur Xu Wenlong, Sino-Philippine, Yichang Guandi Charity Foundation president Xu Moujing

Guan Hongbo, President of Yichang Guangong Culture Research Association, said, "Guandi belief has been deeply integrated into the hearts of all ethnic groups. We should press ahead in promoting the spirit of loyalty and righteousness among the masses, engage in more public welfare and charity causes, and make contributions to social harmony. "Guanhongbo Guanggong Research Association has more than 100 members, which is helping the elderly of no family in 57 villages of Changyang Tujia Autonomous County. It spent 230,000 yuan the year before last year and 330,000 yuan last year, all of which are voluntary donations from its members. "

Liu Songwang, the African entrepreneur of Hubei, said, "The African continent lies at the end of Silk Road. We are endeavoring to propagate the loyalty and righteousness culture of Chinese Guandi to Africa and beyond!" (Text by / Junyi   Photo by / Zhu Zhengming)