陈雪峰

    At the beginning of September last year, I joined a tour group to visit Deqing County in western Guangdong Province. During the trip, we visited the Temple of Dragons’ Mother. It was very impressive.

    The Temple of Dragons’ Mother has witnessed many changes in history. According to some researchers, the prototype of the dragons’ mother lived thousands of years ago. She might be the mother of an ancient emperor or a tribal leader. In the hall of the temple, five dragons sit around their mother. To the believers, bowing to the figures will bring them good luck. Today she is honored by many Cantonese who believe she has a mysterious influence over the Pearl River Delta.

    The temple is believed to have been constructed during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). On the entrance door of the temple, I found some characters saying “Guangxu 31st year (1905).” It was a time of revolution and chaos in Chinese history, especially in Guangdong, where foreign invasions and the Opium Wars ravaged people’s lives. The temple saw an increase in visitors at this difficult time. People wanted peace and safety.

    The temple has been regarded as one of the three great pieces of ancient architecture in the province. It is also a Cantonese cultural monument.

    I was impressed by the groups of sculptures and paintings on top of the temple. The wood carvings were quite astonishing.