“Dedicated to whom?” I ask, as we approach \u8001\u9648\u738b\u5e99 in Shanghai. This Taoist temple has a fascinating story. It is also known as Chen Wang Miao. Its original name was Pudong New Area Chen Wang Miao Gongde Hall.
\u8001\u9648\u738b\u5e99 is located in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area Jinqiao Town Luxing Village. It is a Taoist Zhengyi school temple. The temple’s primary deity is Chen Ping. He was a Han Dynasty prime minister. That is why it is called Chen Wang Miao.
However, \u8001\u9648\u738b\u5e99 also enshrines other deities. These include the Jade Emperor, the Great Emperor of Dongyue and the Three Officials. Also honored are Cihang Daoist (Guanshiyin), and Lord Guan Shengdi. The City God and Patriarch Chunyang are also worshipped here.
According to the “Continued Records of Shanghai County,” \u8001\u9648\u738b\u5e99 was built between 1522 and 1566 during the Ming Jiajing period. It underwent renovations during the Ming Wanli period 1573-1620. In 1802, local people like Song Yuzhang and Song Yueting donated funds for reconstruction. In 1806, trustees such as Cao Yiyang and Wang Xinyi contributed to further renovations. In 1807, Cao Yiyang donated silver to build a theater.
The “Chen Wang Miao Stele Inscription” notes that the temple had no property since its establishment. During the Jiaqing period, trustees like Cao Yiyang and Wang Xinyi proposed buying fields as public property for the temple. They registered it with the local government. In 1817, it was stipulated that the fields would be the temple’s property forever and could not be sold.
In the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, \u8001\u9648\u738b\u5e99 established a primary school. It was called Douchuan Primary School. According to the “Zhangqiao Township Records of Yuanchuan Sand County,” Douchuan Primary School was renamed Anguo Branch School in 1946.
In the early post-liberation period, Anguo Branch School became Wangjia Village Primary School. Later, it was briefly designated as a junior high school. As student numbers grew, the school expanded. The statues were moved outside and the temple became mainly a school.
During the Cultural Revolution, all the temple’s statues were destroyed. All religious activities ceased. After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee, religious policies were reinstated. \u8001\u9648\u738b\u5e99 resumed preparatory work in 1985 and officially reopened in 1989. It was registered on May 14, 1995. The Pudong New Area Management Committee approved it. The registration certificate was officially issued on August 4, 1995. The registered name is Pudong New Area Chen Wang Miao Taoist Temple.
Currently, the temple preserves two ancient stone steles. They are the “Chen Wang Miao Field Stele Inscription” from the Ming Jiajing period and the “Reconstruction of Chen Wang Miao Stele Inscription.”
On lunar days especially the 28th day of the third month the 21st day of the fifth month and the 4th day of the sixth month the temple is thronged with worshippers. Incense fills the air. Taoist music resonates and bells and drums sound. People pray for blessings and longevity here at \u8001\u9648\u738b\u5e99.