Guanlin

Guanlin

Name:Guanlin Class:AAAA Area:Luoyang Tel:Guanlin Town, Luolong District, Luoyang City Tel:0086-371-65907709 0086-400-666-0166 Email：henantour@gmail.com Skype：karenzheng2004 Guanlin, one of the three memorial temples of Guan Yu, is the only three-in-one classic ancient building in China, combining the tomb, the temple and the garden together. It is situated to the north of the Longmen Grottoes and to the south of the Former City of Sui and Tang, with the Luolong Avenue in the west and the Yishui River in the east. Guanlin is famous as a grand mausoleum where Guan Yu’s head was buried. In 1592 A.D (in the Ming Dynasty), the Guan Yu Temple built in the Han Dynasty was extended into an architectural complex consisting of four courtyards and more than 150 temple halls, covering a land of 12 hectares with thousands of cypresses inside. The two majestic stone lions built in the Ming Dynasty stand on each side of the temple gate, carrying a sacrosanct air. The traditional Chinese front door of distinct feudalist style was inlaid with 81 golden doornails, manifesting the lofty status of Guan Yu. The iron lion weighing 1.5 tons now guarding in front of the Yimen Gate was a sacrifice offered by admirers from the Ming Dynasty, still bearing great dignity after 400 years. The epigraph of “Overwhelming Prestige” written by Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908 A.D.) on the plaque hung above the Yimen Gate was a rarity with an air of sober civility. The Lions Channel connecting the Yimen Gate and the Baidian Hall (Worshipping Hall) represented the uttermost achievements of central China stone-carving in the Ming Dynasty at the age of Emperor Qianlong. There are all together 104 stone lions standing on tops of the supporting columns along the Lions Channel, each of which has its unique pose and appearance. Without any angularity characterized by usual stone carvings, these vivid lions of smooth outlines are peerless all around the world. Guanlin has the typical features of ancient traditional Chinese architectures in layout, with major buildings standing along the axis one after another and the tomb of Guan Yu lying at the far end. Scattering across the Guanlin are splendid high—rise structures with carved beams, painted rafters and protruding eaves, incense smoke coiling up around the towering tomb and steles. In the major hall, the statue of Guan Yu sits in the middle, wearing a gown embroidered with dragons and a crown with 12 tassels on head which embodies the imperial power. Beside him stand his son Guan Ping who is holding Guan Yu’s large official seal and Zhou Cang, Guan Yu’s servant, who is holding Guan Yu’s grand falchion. The memorial halls of Zhang Fei and five other generals are situated behind. Amazing legends of Guan Yu are spreading here, impressing visitor with the special power of his traditional virtues. Lucky enough, visitors may witness the grand ceremony named the Root-seeking Tour of Oriental Culture & the International Pilgrimage Ceremony of Guanlin, Luoyang of China which is held here once a year. The Wulou building facing the gate of Guanlin was built in 1791 A.D. in the Qing Dynasty. As a typical traditional Chinese stage structure, Wulou building is a delicately designed platform with a special roof and an ichnography in shape of the Chinese character“凸”. The gate section is a structure of Chinese gabled roof with 3 passages and 5 rooms. The two white marble lions are the largest extant ones built in the Ming Dynasty. The Yimen Gate had been altered in the Qing Dynasty in the extension from the former one built in the Ming Dynasty and the iron lion standing in front of it was rare in Luoyang. The stone board and the platform were built in imitation of those in palaces of emperors. The 104 small stone lions standing on the top of the columns with different poses are vivid and lifelike. Built in the Ming Dynasty with curled roof, the Baidian Hall (Worshiping Hall) is a five-room structure where people worship Guan Yu when they hold the memorial ceremony. Cherished in the hall are the plaques with inscriptions of Emperor Qianlong and Empress Dowager Cixi in addition to the large falchion of Guan Yu which is 3.5 meters tall. The First Hall, the grandest structure of Guanlin, is 7-room in length and 3-room in width, covering 760 square meters. The roof of the affiliated hall is covered by colored glazed tiles and ornamented by six awe-inspiring pottery beasts standing on the five protruding ridges. On the four eaves curling upward stand four pottery martial generals. Hanging from the eaves are tinkling pieces of metal and golden bells swinging in the wind. In the hall supported by large red columns, there are three warm cabinets where hollowed out carpentry works of carvings of colorful dragons are housed. On the gate of the Great Hall are displayed elaborate and beautiful woodcarvings of the 12 stories of Guan Yu, such as Becoming three sworn brothers in a peach garden, Three heroes fighting together, To attend the rival’s banquet alone, etc. and other traditional themes such as soaring dragons, flying phoenixes and blooming peonies, which pay a tribute to the merits and achievements of Guan Yu. The Second Hall is a structure consisting of 5 rooms. The statue of Guan Yu stands in the frontispiece of the hall, in his uniform with his elegant long whiskers moving in the wind, glaring at Kingdom Wu, a main rival, carrying an air of grace and power. The statue of Guan Ping stands on the left, carrying a sword while Zhou Cang standing on the right, with a grand falchion in hand. Series of paintings can be found below the front eave as well as on the back door, telling vividly the famous historical stories of Guan Yu, exhibiting his valiancy and merits. The Third Hall is a small 5-room structure also named Qindian (Bedroom Hall) with a Chinese gabled roof. Three large paintings of wars having Guan Yu as the hero can be found below the eave of the hall. Tips of all arches were made into high-rising dragon heads, splendid in colors. Add: Guanlin Town, Luolong District, Luoyang City Tel: 0379-65951746 Fax: 0379-65962018 Henan Feng International Travel Agency: 0371-65963326