Hanyu Memorial Temple in Chaozhou

Hanyu Memorial Temple in Chaozhou

Overview

The Hanyu Memorial Temple (韩文公祠) is located at the foot of Bijiashan Mountain (笔架山), in the eastern part of Chaozhou City (潮州市), Guangdong Province, China. The temple was originally built in the Northern Song Dynasty (北宋) in 999 AD (the second year of the Xianping reign) and is the oldest existing memorial dedicated to Han Yu (韩愈), a prominent literary figure from the Tang Dynasty (唐代). The temple backs onto Han Mountain (韩山) and faces Han River (韩江).

The main structure consists of two sections, with beautifully crafted walls, greenish brick facades, and artistic carvings. The temple is renowned for its architectural style and is an important historical site. In 2006, it was designated as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit (全国重点文物保护单位) by the State Council of China.

Location and Visiting Information

Location: 18 Dongxing North Road, Xiangqiao District, Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province, China
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM); Closed on Mondays (except for public holidays)
Ticket Price: Free Admission
Famous Attractions: Han Yu’s Oak Tree, Various Historical Stelae, and the Minister’s Pavilion (侍郎阁)
Best Season to Visit: All year round
Constructed: 999 AD (Northern Song Dynasty)
Protection Level: National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit
Approved by: The State Council of China
Site Code: 6-0684-3-387

History and Renovations

The Hanyu Memorial Temple (韩文公祠), also known as the Han Yu Memorial Museum (韩愈纪念馆), was originally constructed in 999 AD by Chen Yaozuo (陈尧佐), the deputy prefect of Chaozhou, at the foot of Jinshan Mountain (金山), near the Confucius Temple (夫子庙). The temple’s purpose was to honor Han Yu, who was praised for his influence in literature and philosophy. The memorial was relocated to its current location in 1189 AD during the Southern Song Dynasty (南宋), by Ding Yunyu (丁允元), the governor of Chaozhou.

The temple underwent multiple renovations in the Ming (明) and Qing Dynasties (清), as well as modern-day repairs in the 1980s. Notably, during the late Qing Dynasty (清朝光绪十三年), a major renovation was conducted under the directive of Zhang Zhidong (张之洞), the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi. The memorial became a well-known tourist destination in Chaozhou (潮州) after the 1990s.

Architectural Layout

The Hanyu Memorial Temple is backed by Han Mountain and overlooks Han River, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The temple consists of a three-story hall (三层殿阁), with a width of 18.7 meters. The main hall’s walls are constructed using solid green bricks, expertly carved and tightly fitted with the wooden beams above.

The temple has a spacious courtyard at the front, with a stone fence. It is divided into a front and rear section, with the front serving as an entrance hall and the rear as the main hall, which is slightly raised by 2.5 meters. The inner courtyard has two side wings and contains over 40 stone stelae from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, commemorating the history of the memorial and Han Yu’s contributions.

Architectural Features

Walls: The main temple’s façade features solid, smooth greenish stone walls, which reflect the traditional Cantonese architectural style. The fine craftsmanship of the walls is similar to that of the Chen Family Ancestral Hall (陈家祠) and the Five Rams Tower (五羊楼) in Guangzhou.
Roof: The temple’s roof is distinctively adorned with ceramic tiles in subtle tones of black, white, green, yellow, and red, which contribute to the elegant and unique appearance of the building.
Eaves: The eaves are traditionally designed, with intricate carvings and graceful curves that follow the regional architectural style.

Cultural Relics and Artifacts

Statues and Inscriptions

Han Yu Statue: The main hall houses a statue of Han Yu, with statues of his attendants, Zhang Qian and Li Wan, by his side. An inscription at the entrance of the temple, carved in ancient script, reads “Hanyu Memorial Temple” (韩文公祠).
Oak Tree: There is a famous oak tree (韩祠橡木) in the temple grounds, believed to have been planted by Han Yu himself. It has become a symbol of Han Yu’s legacy, with its branches representing his philosophical and literary influence. Local people still regard the oak tree as a symbol of academic prosperity.

Stelae and Calligraphy

Historical Stelae: The temple features over 40 stelae (碑刻), with some dating back to the Song (宋) and Ming (明) Dynasties. One of the most significant is Su Shi’s (苏轼) inscription, praising Han Yu’s contributions to Chinese culture.
Calligraphy: The temple also contains valuable calligraphy works, including rare inscriptions and poems written by famous scholars throughout history, celebrating the achievements of Han Yu.

Main Architecture

Stone Archway (石牌坊)

The stone archway of the Hanyu Memorial Temple is located at the beginning of the stone corridor in front of the temple’s main entrance. It is a four-pillar, three-bay style white stone arch.

Historical and Cultural Significance

Related Figure

Han Yu (韩愈), a prominent politician, philosopher, and writer during the Tang Dynasty, wrote the famous “Memorial on the Buddhist Relics” in the 14th year of the Yuanhe era (819 AD). His work angered the emperor, who initially sentenced him to death, but he was later pardoned and demoted to the position of Governor of Chaozhou. While in Chaozhou for over seven months, Han Yu brought advanced Central Plains culture to the Lingnan region, drove away crocodiles, liberated slaves, developed water conservancy, promoted education, and accomplished many good deeds for the people. He was revered as a god by the people of Chaozhou, who renamed the nearby Mount Bijia (笔架山) to Han Mountain (韩山) and the Crocodile Creek (鳄溪) to Han River (韩江).

Preservation Efforts

In 1984, the Hanyu Memorial Temple underwent comprehensive repairs, and a new archway, the “Hanyu Memorial Arch,” was constructed. Subsequently, the Shilang Pavilion (侍郎阁) was added to the rear of the temple, the Yun Yuan Pavilion (允元亭) was built on the right side of the temple, and the “Tian Nan Bei Sheng” corridor (天南碑胜庑廊) was added to the front. These additions made the Hanyu Memorial Temple one of the main tourist attractions in Chaozhou.

On May 25, 2006, the State Council approved the inclusion of the Hanyu Memorial Temple in the list of the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Travel Information

Location

The Hanyu Memorial Temple is located at No. 18, Dongxing North Road, Qiaodong Community, Qiaodong Street, Xiangqiao District, Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province.