Temple of the Unknown Name
Laiwu💎
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📍 Address: No. 10 Xinjian Street
The Temple of the Unknown Name was originally built during the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty (AD 1472), initially named "Jing'an Temple." It was funded by local gentry as a place for folk prayers and blessings. Damaged during the turmoil of the Qing Guangxu era, it was later restored by respected community elders, who renamed it "Temple of the Unknown Name," symbolizing "virtue without fame, blessing all around." Though its name does not appear in official historical records, it is frequently mentioned in local oral traditions, making it a significant physical testament to popular beliefs and community organization during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The temple faces south with its back to the north, covering an area of approximately 300 square meters. The existing structures reflect late Qing dynasty architectural style, centered on a single-eaved hip-roof wooden hall measuring three bays wide and two bays deep. The front pavilion features a main gate and bell and drum towers, flanked by side wings. The courtyard layout is strictly ordered, reflecting traditional ritual spatial hierarchy. Roof ridges are adorned with glazed ceramic dragons and phoenixes, while beams and rafters feature intricate paintings of landscapes and figures. Despite weathering over time, the craftsmanship remains clearly visible.
Inside the hall, the principal deity is enshrined as "The Sage Without Form," represented by a 1.6-meter-tall statue carved from camphor wood. The figure has a serene expression and flowing robes, exhibiting typical characteristics of late-Qing Fujianese sculptural art. Two stone steles stand before the hall: one dated Dao Guang 19th year (1839) records the names of donors; the other, from the 22nd year of the Republic of China, is an "Exhortation to Goodness" stele promoting harmony within the community—both possessing substantial historical and social value. Additionally, a bronze incense burner and an iron bell are preserved here, both designated as county-level immovable cultural relics.
Though lacking a prominent reputation, the Temple of the Unknown Name holds deep spiritual significance for the local populace and serves as a repository of collective memory. Its rituals continue to this day, culminating annually in the "Spring Festival Gathering" on the 28th day of the second lunar month, featuring chanting ceremonies, lion dances, and vegetarian banquets—offering a living example for studying regional intangible cultural heritage. During the War of Resistance against Japan, the temple also functioned as a covert communication hub, lending it additional historical importance in the context of revolutionary memory.
🕊️ Though unnamed, this temple silently safeguards a vital thread of local cultural heritage—a spiritual anchor embedded within the city’s fabric.