Perhaps you have noticed the small courtyard. Before we enter the Yuuxugong, I want you to take a look around. Notice the small turtle and snake pond. This provides a tranquil prelude to the temple itself.
The Yuuxugong is also known as the Jade Void Palace. It stands as a testament to Guangzhou’s rich history and cultural heritage. It was initially built during the Ming Dynasty. Specifically, it was erected during the reign of Emperor Wanli.
The Yuuxugong faces north. Its structure consists of three rooms. It also features two进 or “jìn,” referring to a traditional Chinese courtyard layout. The total area spans 8.3 meters in width and 21 meters in depth. The building occupies 174.3 square meters.
Take a closer look at the roof. Notice the glazed dragon boat ridge. The Yuuxugong features a gable wall. Look at the brick and gray cylindrical tiles and the green glazed tile trim. The roof ridge displays a gray sculpture of two dragons playing with a pearl. This is a later addition during a renovation. Before the renovation, the roof ridge only had a pearl.
The renovation of the Yuuxugong added antique ridges and some opera stories. You can see auspicious animals. These include cranes, phoenixes and deer. These sculptures show delicate craftsmanship. The textures are dense and the lines smooth. The details are rich.
Before us are the stone carvings. The stone plaque reads “Yuuxugong”. The inscription includes “Daoguang 壬寅 Winter” and “Lu Jun respectfully written”. This indicates the temple’s renovation in the winter of the Renyin year. This corresponds to 1842. The couplet reads: “秀挹云山功昭北极恩流粤峤泽沛南箕”. Golden bats adorn the top of the pillars. The outer wall features painted opera figures. There are southern landscapes with mountains. The artwork retains a strong Lingnan artistic aesthetic. Two small stone lions guard the entrance.
Inside the hall is a statue of 玄天上帝, Xuán Tiān Shàngdì. He is the Northern Emperor. The statue is about 1.7 meters tall. The statue has bare feet stepping on a tortoise and snake. Four small Northern Emperor statues stand on either side. A plaque reads “北极殿”, or “North Pole Palace”. A couplet hangs on both sides. It reads: “赤足踏龟蛇众妖无名玄之至披发冲牛斗群魔尽扫武为真”. Statues of Huaguang and Kang Gong stand on both sides of the throne. They hold a Fang Tian Hua Ji and wolf tooth club. They look majestic and imposing. Guanyin Hall and Tai Sui Hall are to the left of the main hall. Wenwu Hall and Caishen Hall are to the right.
The Yuuxugong also has a skylight. There are corridors on both sides. Nine stone steles are embedded in the walls of the corridors. The steles date from different periods. The first stele dates back to the sixtyth year of the Kangxi reign in the Qing Dynasty. That corresponds to 1721. It describes the Yuuxugong’s scenery. It mentions the temple’s location facing Yun Mountain. It mentions the Pearl River behind it.
A stele from the seventh year of the Qianlong reign details a water dispute. It explains a ruling on irrigation rights. Another stele from the nineteenth year of Qianlong commemorates another Yuuxugong renovation. An inscription notes the Yuuxugong had existed for over a century.
From the temple’s establishment to its role in resolving local disputes. The Yuuxugong has been central to the community. Its history is etched in these stone inscriptions. These stones tell a story of faith. They also tell about community and resilience. They also speak of water disputes. The Yuuxugong remains a vital part of Yang Mei Village. It is a cultural landmark. It is a window into Guangzhou’s past.