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Hunting for treasures of the Three Kingdoms

As cities modernize and erect new buildings, it's often a challenge to find traces of the past. Stories are hidden behind ancient walls now obscured by new construction, and memories are etched into stones that are eroded and ignored.

Hunting for treasures of the Three Kingdoms
Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period [Credit: Yuncheng]
In Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, a temple dating back more than 1,500 years, stands in the busy downtown, quietly waiting for explorers to unearth its secrets. These hidden treasures reflect the history of the celebrated, tumultuous Three Kingdoms Period (AD 220-280) that arose at the end of the 400-year-old Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).

In the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), a temple was built in honor of Zhuge Liang, prime minister of the Shu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms Period. It was next to the Temple of Emperor Liu Bei. In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the two were merged into one, now called Wuhou Temple. The main structure was rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Wuhou, meaning minister of war, refers to Zhuge, the legendary military and political strategist credited with many extraordinary triumphs. In one tale, he collected badly needed arrows for his own troops by tricking the enemy into firing their own arrows onto a boat with a burning cover of straw.

Wuhou Temple, a famous tourist destination, was the first of many temples built in his honor. It also honors the emperor.

History lectures and archeological tours can be boring, if you only hear dates and facts from tour guides. Well, you can try to think of this visit as a Three Kingdoms treasure hunt, a challenge rather than a history lesson.

Hunting for treasures of the Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms in 262, on the eve of the conquest of Shu [Credit: Wiki Commonos]
To start, look up at the front gate and you see a plaque that reads Han Zhao Lie Miao, or Temple of Emperor Liu Bei. Between the front and second gates are six stone steles each around 3 meters high. The most distinctive is Sanjue Tablet or the Tablet of Three Successes, which documents Zhuge's achievements and is protected by a transparent case. Sanjue refers to the three masters who created it: composed by Pei Du, the official and military strategist in the Tang Dynasty; calligraphy by renowned artist Liu Gongchuo, and engraving by the great stone carver Lu Jian.

Though the temple was named after Zhuge, the front shrine was dedicated to Emperor Liu Bei. It contains a 3-meter-tall gold-plated statue of the emperor in the center. On one side is a statue of Guan Yu and on the other Zhang Fei, the emperor's two sworn brothers and brave generals. Statues of their sons and grandsons are nearby.

But the emperor's son Liu Chan is not honored. His statue once stood in the hall but it was removed in the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1270) because he was an incompetent ruler and led the kingdom to defeat.

The colorful, distinctive statues wear vivid, exaggerated expressions, their huge eyeballs staring out at visitors. Some are gesturing. The facial expressions are like those on the famous masks from Sichuan Opera, known for its face-changing acts.

The Hall of Zhuge Liang is slightly lower than his emperor's. A gold-plated statue of Zhuge holds a fan made of crane feathers - in art and literature, he is often depicted with such a fan. Before him are three bronze drums decorated in floral patterns and said to be his battle drums.

Hunting for treasures of the Three Kingdoms
Zhangfei Temple,Founded in China's Three Kingdoms period-old temple in Yunyang county ,Sichuan of China, in the Yangtze River Three Gorges Tourism [Credit: Yuncheng]
A quiet red-walled passage with shade provided by bamboo takes you to the tomb of Liu Bei, also known as the Huiling Mausoleum. The walkway is so quiet and peaceful that time seems to freeze when you step in.

Another stop in your Three Kingdoms treasure hunt is the wall inscriptions, which reproduced the documents that Zhuge presented to Emperor Liu before his first and second northern expeditions against the Wei Kingdom in AD 225 and AD 226. The handsome calligraphy was written by general Yue Fei in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279).

After you finish the treasure hunt, you'd probably be tired, thirsty or even hungry. Well, the next stop is Jinli, the old street that used to be one of the busiest commercial streets in the Shu Kingdom. It is just outside an exit from the Wuhou Temple.

Buildings in Three Kingdoms style line narrow, crowded streets, where shops sell Shu embroidery, folk arts and crafts, calligraphy, paintings and items such as distinctive pillows. The first phase of Jinli Street was opened in 2004.

Artisans give demonstrations and sell souvenirs. Although Jinli was a traditional commercial street, many cafes and bars have opened in nearby lanes. The street is a blend of tradition and modernity and a nice place to stroll land explore.

Hunting for treasures of the Three Kingdoms
This tomb was uncovered recently in Xiangyang China. Researchers found that it dates back about 1,800 years to the early Three Kingdoms period, a time when the country was split into the realms of Wei, Wu and Shu. The two chambers in the back would have been covered by dome shaped roofs in antiquity. A life-size bronze horse can be seen in the anteroom and the back chamber contains two coffins holding the remains of a general, who was about 45 years old when he died, and his wife [Credit: Chinese Archaeology]
Food is another magnet at Jinli, and many people visit Chengdu just to eat. Snacks and beverages are sold in small shops and visitors can relax and eat at outside tables and chairs.

Sichuan cuisine is famous for chilies and numbing peppers. It's very spicy (mala) but many people love it for the rush it brings.

Snacks include bobo chicken, skewers of chicken and different vegetables marinated in spicy sauces in big pottery jars and served cold.

But Sichuan food is not just spicy, the flavors are diverse. Another signature snack is san da pao balls made from sticky rice, brown sugar, sesame and soybean flour. Its name reflects the "pow" sound made when the cook throws the balls against a cutting board to shape them. It's served in threes (san).

Jinli isn't just for tourists, but for locals as well. Many people sit in tea houses, sipping a favorite tea and watching Sichuan Opera.

Wuhou Temple and Jinli represent the spirit of the Three Kingdoms culture.

From taking in colorful, temple statues to strolling and enjoying tasty finger food, you're sure to get a flavor of ancient times in this treasure hunt, both for your brain and your taste buds. And you don't have to listen to a boring history class.

Author: Li Anlan | Source: People's Daily Online [December 19, 2012]