Is "Foshan Shadowless Foot" real? Visit the hometown of martial arts and visit the ancestral temple in Foshan

The photos in this article were all taken by the author of "The Touch of Black and White" and are copyrighted. Any use without permission is strictly prohibited!

When I was in elementary school, I had a dream in my heart. In the future, I would become a martial arts hero, punishing evil and promoting good, and a hero saving beauty. Influenced by the "Once Upon a Time" series of movies in the 1990s, after school meals, the little boy would always pose Jet Li's signature white crane with wings spread out and golden rooster standing alone, chanting "Foshan Shadowless Kick" while making two moves while imagining. He is the martial arts master in the movie.

As I get older, I know that most of the kung fu in movies is fake. As I get older, I understand that most things in life cannot be solved by martial arts, so the "original dream" has long been forgotten. But childhood fantasies are still beautiful memories, and the music of "Heroes face thousands of waves, and blood is like the red sun" still inspires me.

The "Foshan Shadowless Kick" in the movie is a flying kick in the air. It is an artistic process that does not conform to the laws of physics. However, Foshan Shadowless Kick is a real Kung Fu, and it is a kicking technique that can conquer the east and attack the west. , a stunt created by martial arts master Huang Feihong.

Foshan is the hometown of Huang Feihong and the hometown of the great master Ip Man. There are also many martial artists (such as Bruce Lee, Liang Zan, etc.) who have a close relationship with Foshan. Foshan is the birthplace of China's Southern Martial Arts and is therefore known as the "Hometown of Martial Arts".

(Martial Arts and Lion Dance Sculptures on the Streets of Foshan)

Today’s article allows us to enter Foshan and feel the charm of martial arts. In addition, there are also Shunde’s acclaimed food and The beauty of Lingnan gardens.

Foshan is close to Guangzhou. It is less than 30 kilometers from Guangzhou by bus (Guangzhou-Foshan Metro Line) to Foshan. Although not as prosperous and fashionable as Guangzhou, Foshan is historically one of the famous "Four Gatherings of the World" (i.e., the four important commercial centers in China during the Qing Dynasty, the other three being Beijing, Suzhou and Wuhan). In addition to martial arts, it is also The hometown of pottery and Cantonese opera, it is the birthplace of Guangfu culture and a famous cultural city of Dragon Boat Festival and Southern Lion. It is still one of the most developed regions in the country in terms of private economy.

To understand the martial arts and history of Foshan, you must not miss the Foshan Ancestral Temple in Chancheng District.

The Foshan Ancestral Temple was built in the Yuanfeng period of the Northern Song Dynasty (1078-1085). It was destroyed in the Yuan Dynasty and rebuilt in the fifth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1372). God. The Ancestral Temple is the first of all temples in Foshan. It integrates political power, clan power and divine power, and is closely related to the historical development of Foshan.

In addition, the ancestral temple now has Wanfu Terrace, Lingying Archway, Jinxiang Pool, Sanmen, Qiandian, Main Hall, Qingzhen Tower and other ancient Ming and Qing buildings, most of which are representative Lingnan buildings. The decorative brick carvings, wood carvings, stone carvings, pottery sculptures, gray sculptures and Song-style brackets are the essence of Lingnan architectural art, so the ancestral temple is also known as the "Palace of Oriental Folk Art".

There are sculptures reflecting Foshan folk customs in the square outside the ancestral temple:

(Marriage leave - getting married)

(Autumn colors - Chinese dragon dance) < /p>

After entering from the west gate, the first thing you see is the double dragon wall in the picture below.

This wall is made of pottery sculpture. On the wall, two giant dragons are swimming among the blue sky and clear water, like two dragons competing for pearls. The glaze is thick and lively, with auspicious clouds and waves, majestic and majestic.

Foshan’s ceramic industry developed at its peak during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Shiwan pottery introduced earlier in the “Guangdong Provincial Museum” is its representative. It has the reputation of “Shiwan tiles, the best in the world” and is still used today in Foshan Shiwan. It is still known as the "Pottery Capital of the South". This double dragon wall is a masterpiece of large-scale ceramic sculptures by Shiwan potters.

There is a lion awakening platform on the north side of the Double Dragon Wall. The dragon is the totem of the Chinese nation, while the lion is a symbol of solemnity and power and an auspicious animal that brings good luck. The stone lions displayed on this lion awakening platform are all decorative components of local ancient buildings. The red sandstone blocks used to build the platform are relics of the Qing Dynasty architecture in the local Chengfengli. "Lion awakening" is a kind of lion dance, which belongs to the southern lion. There are lion awakening performances every day in the ancestral temple.

Behind the lion dance platform is a Qing Dynasty Lingnan style antique building that is quite eye-catching. The plaque in front of the door reads "Ip Man Hall". In recent years, there have been an endless stream of film and television works related to Ip Man, especially the four "Ip Man" starring Donnie Yen, which have made this image deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. But what is Ip Man in history? "Ip Man and Ip Man" in Ip Man Hall "Wing Chun Culture Exhibition" helped us outline an outline.

Ip Man is a martial artist, a generation of masters, and a generation of martial arts spirits; Wing Chun is a boxing style, a spirit, and a culture. His life was a life of promoting Chinese martial arts thoughts. In the process of understanding, developing and promoting Wing Chun, he persisted in the valuable spirit of constant exploration and independent thinking. , and further carry forward the spirit of Chinese martial arts. The Wing Chun taught by Ip Man has been continuously developed and promoted by his direct and re-inherited disciples, making it keep pace with the times and go global, forming a more open and inclusive character and forming a unique character in the Chinese martial arts world. Wing Chun culture.

Ip Man (1893-1972), formerly known as Ip Kai Man, was a member of the Yip family in Sangyuan, Foshan. He was talented since childhood and learned Wing Chun from Chen Huashun, the first disciple of Foshan Wing Chun master Liang Zan. Later, he studied martial arts with Wu Zhongsu and Liang Bi, Liang Zan's son, and his skills became increasingly sophisticated. In 1949, he settled in Hong Kong, set up a gym and taught apprentices, and has been committed to the promotion and popularization of Wing Chun.

(Restored Scene of Ip Man’s Former Residence in Hong Kong)

The Ip Man we see in the movie is a very elegant man. Ip Man was born into a prominent family in Foshan and grew up in a private school. He received a strict traditional Confucian education, and later studied at St. Stephen's College, a prestigious school in Hong Kong, where he received a modern scientific education. It can be said that he was both civil and military. Throughout his life, Ip Man took "Silence is golden, can bend and stretch, keep his mouth shut, and wait and see what changes" as his motto in life. He always adhered to the noble martial ethics and integrity of "learning martial arts first to establish character" and "emphasizing discipline over profit". With his "humble gentleman, follow the rules" The charisma of a "Confucian scholar" has become a model for traditional Chinese martial artists.

Ip Man’s boxing education attaches great importance to teaching students in accordance with their aptitude and basic skills training, and pays attention to constantly absorbing the principles of mechanics and geometry to explain the rules of Wing Chun. It is more concise and easy to understand, and at the same time he has made a series of reforms to the training equipment, which is very popular among students and has become a famous teacher in the martial arts world. His direct and secondary disciples are distributed all over the world and have founded thousands of Wing Chun martial arts organizations and cultural institutions, such as the Wing Chun Sports Association in Hong Kong, the Ip Man Wing Chun Museum in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand, and South Africa. , Wing Chun gyms in Malaysia and other countries, etc. Under the illumination of Ip Man’s martial arts spirit, Wing Chun has spread widely overseas, from the ancient town of Foshan to the world.

Among Ip Man’s many disciples, the most famous is Bruce Lee. When Bruce Lee was 15 years old, he studied under Ip Man in Hong Kong and developed excellent Wing Chun skills. In addition, he also successively learned traditional Chinese Kung Fu such as Jing Wu, Mantis, Hong Fist, White Crane, and Shaolin Fist, and mastered a variety of martial arts skills. In one body.

(Ip Man and Bruce Lee practicing sticky hands)

In 1962, Bruce Lee went to the United States to study. After graduation, he established the "Zhenfan Guoshu Museum" in Seattle to teach Chinese Kung Fu. While in the United States, he carefully studied the essence of Chinese and foreign martial arts, learned from the strengths of others, and created his own "Jeet Kune Do". In 1971, Bruce Lee returned to Hong Kong to engage in film and television work, and shot a number of movies that caused a sensation in the world of cinema, making Chinese Kung Fu famous around the world. Foshan Wing Chun, which he learned in his early years, gradually became popular all over the world.

(Shiwan Pottery Bruce Lee Statue)

The Wing Chun developed and spread by Ip Man and the Yemen heroes represented by Bruce Lee is based on martial arts, keeps up with the times, and faces the world. It is no longer just a boxing technique, but also a spirit of openness, tolerance, enterprising and patriotism, which is the essence of our culture that stands out among the nations of the world. I think that the "Ip Man" series and the "Bruce Lee" series of movies and TV series are very popular. In addition to the wonderful fighting, what touches us is the spirit of martial arts.

(The Eight-Zhan Knife used by the crew of "Ip Man: The Prequel")

(Early Bruce Lee movies and Ip Man movies)

Going out of Ip Man Hall To the east, you can see a majestic archway surrounded by stele corridors - Baochong Archway.

The Baochong Archway was built in the 16th year of Zhengde in the Ming Dynasty (1521). It was originally the Maliang Temple Archway in Datangqian County, Xianyongpu, Foshan. It was moved here in 1972. This is a stone archway with four pillars and three gates. It is decorated with a large number of brick carvings and is rich in content, including birds, animals, flowers, story characters, etc. It is quite original. The stone inscription "Praise for Chong" on the front of the square is from the imperial edict of Zhu Houzhao, Emperor Zhengde of the Ming Dynasty. It was erected to commemorate the achievements of Liang Zhuo of the Ma Liang family in the county. Liang Zhuo was a Jinshi in the Xu year of Zhengde in the Ming Dynasty (1514), and was the head of the Ceremony Department. He had an upright temperament and was devoted to his duties. He died in the seventh year of Jiajing (1528).

There are two iron cannons under the archway, which were unearthed in Shamian, Guangzhou and Humen, Dongguan respectively in 1975 and 1974. The inscriptions on the cannon bodies show that they were both cast by Foshan casters during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. During the First Opium War, British soldiers besieged Guangzhou City. Provincial officials entrusted Foshan squires to supervise the construction of cannons to assist in defense. Foshan was an important smelting base in the Lingnan region during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. During the Opium War, there were many cannons cast in Foshan. Many Foshan cannons are still preserved in fort sites such as Humen in Dongguan.

Along the stele corridor to the north, we saw another archway - Jiexiao Liufang Archway. This archway was built in the 25th year of Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1760) to commemorate Yin Liao's filial piety. The Qing Dynasty followed the practice of the past dynasties. If a woman observes the festival until her death after losing her husband, the emperor can give her a chastity archway. Although this is outdated. Feudal culture, due to its complex decoration, exquisite architecture, unique ingenuity and extraordinary courage, has high historical and artistic value.

After passing through the archway, we came to the lion awakening field, where there are scheduled martial arts and lion awakening performances every morning and afternoon. Martial arts includes fists, feet and weapons. The punches and kicks are sharp, and the swords and guns generate wind, which attracts bursts of applause from the audience. The most exciting thing is the lion dance. I have seen southern lion performances in Enshi and Xiangyang before, but they are not as exciting as the lion dance here. Not to mention the difficult movements of jumping up and down and tossing and turning, the "lion climbing" trembling at a high place was performed so vividly that it was amazing. (I have uploaded videos on platforms such as "The Touch of Black and White" and other platforms. If you are interested, you can search and have a look)

To the west of the lion dance venue is the martial arts performance hall, where is another martial arts master in Foshan - Huang Feihong’s memorial hall, let’s go into the museum and learn about the life of this man who was once my childhood hero.

Huang Feihong was a Hongquan master in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. He was a great master in Lingnan martial arts circles and a doctor who saved lives and healed the wounded. A righteous man with a sense of family and country.

Huang Feihong has been practicing martial arts from his father Huang Qiying since he was a child. He has been selling martial arts and medicine in Foshan, Guangzhou and other places since he was 12 years old. At the age of 16, he opened a martial arts gym in Qifu Shuijiao, Xiguan, Guangzhou. He had many disciples and became a famous martial artist. He had an important influence on the development of southern martial arts.

(Statue of Huang Feihong)

The Kung Fu of the "sissy" tailor in the movie "Kung Fu" is called "Iron Fist". In reality, Iron Fist is one of the Shaolin martial arts. The internal strength technique is specially used to train bridge players. It is the unique skill of Tie Qiao San, the first of the "Ten Tigers of Guangdong", and was later taught to Huang Feihong by his apprentice Lin Fucheng.

In addition to martial arts, Huang Feihong's lion skills are also well-known in Guangzhou. There are many scenes showing Huang Feihong's lion dance in the movie, and there is even one called "The Lion King". Historically, Huang Feihong is famous for his performances such as lion coming out of the cave, rolling, picking Ganoderma lucidum, climbing up the stairs, spitting balls, etc. Among them, "flying thallium to pick green" is even called a unique skill, with hundreds of hits and perfect skills. Huang Feihong also pioneered the female lion dance. His wife Mo Guilan and female disciple Deng Xiuqiong's lion dance performances were superb and praised by people at the time.

(Mrs. Huang Feihong - Mo Guilan)

Huang Feihong also set up a medical clinic in Guangzhou to provide emergency assistance. Later, he invited Liu Yongfu (a famous general in the late Qing Dynasty, who worked in "Guangzhou" He was invited to serve as the head coach of the Guangdong Militia, and he made great contributions in the war to resist Japan and protect Taiwan. In 1925, Huang Feihong died of illness in Guangzhou.

The picture below shows the restoration scene of "Bao Zhilin". I believe that friends who have watched the "Once Upon a Time" series of movies are familiar with this pharmacy.

The picture below is the oil painting "Huang Feihong Training the Black Flag Army": In 1888, Huang Feihong served as the chief instructor of Liu Yongfu's Black Flag Army. In 1894, Huang Feihong followed Liu Yongfu and led the Fuzi Army to station in Tainan. He led the Black Flag Army and the Taiwanese Rebel Army in a life-and-death struggle against the Japanese invaders. After several months of fighting, tens of thousands of Japanese troops were wiped out, and he made immortal contributions in the War to Resist Japan and Protect Taiwan.

Most of us know Huang Feihong from film and television. In fact, because Huang Feihong’s life is full of legend, before the popularity of film and television, there were novels and Cantonese operas about him that were widely circulated in the form of radio broadcasts. Guang, an artistic image of chivalrous and righteous, helping those in need - Huang Feihong of Foshan, has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

As early as 1933, Huang Feihong’s disciple Zhu Yuzhai (Lin Shirong’s apprentice) wrote the first novel "The Farewell of Huang Feihong" to introduce Huang Feihong. After that, in the 1940s, Huang Feihong was the protagonist. The novels on the subject reached their peak. The success of the novels prompted Huang Feihong's image to appear on stage, movies, radio, and television, making him a well-known martial arts figure.

(Props from the movie "Once Upon a Time: The Lion of the Western Regions")

The exhibition in the Huang Feihong Memorial Hall is called "Heaven and Earth, One Feihong". Indeed, Huang Feihong was known for his majestic and upright appearance. The spirit of chivalry and the patriotic feelings of protecting the family and the country have become a cultural symbol of Chinese warriors, forming a martial arts culture with great influence. It can be said that "the flying hero walks on the slush, and the flying hero stays behind."

On the south side of Huang Feihong Memorial Hall is a row of ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties arranged from north to south. The northernmost ancient building is Qingzhen Tower.

Qingzhen Tower was built in the first year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty (1796). It is a temple dedicated to the holy parents of the Northern Emperor (Emperor Mingzhen and Queen Shansheng). It is also called the "Parent Hall" and is the ancient ancestral temple. The latest building in the complex. Qingzhen Tower is 16.63 meters high. It was the tallest building in Foshan Ancient Town during the Qing Dynasty. Standing on Qingzhen Tower you can overlook the panoramic view of Foshan Town. It is even higher than the main hall "Zixiao Palace" dedicated to the Northern Emperor, which embodies the meaning of "parents are respected".

The couplets on the stone pillars of the shrine in the temple are "The moral education of Xuantian Saint's parents, whose merits are reflected in the creation of the universe." There is also a parents' hall on the Golden Summit of Wudang Mountain. Rao Tsung-i, the master of traditional Chinese culture.

Further south, we came to Lingying Temple, which is the main building of the Foshan Ancestral Temple. The temple enshrines Beidi, the god of the north in ancient Chinese mythology. In the Pearl River Delta region, there are many temples dedicated to Beidi, and the Foshan Ancestral Temple ranks first in size. Maybe you are curious how the gods of the north are enshrined in the temples of the south. Don’t worry, we will find out for you below.

To the locals, Lingying Temple is a holy place for worshiping gods, but to most tourists, it is an "art museum" of Lingnan architectural decoration. Many of the furnishings and decorations in the temple are unique and full of Lingnan characteristics.

The picture below shows the "Lion Rolling Hydrangea" gilded double-sided hollow wood carving screen in front of the hall. It is luxurious, magnificent, and has smooth lines, showing the rich traditional wood carving art style of Foshan.

Another example is the large bronze tripod below with lion buttons, covered ears and animal feet. It was cast in the 25th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (1899). With rich and beautiful decorations and exquisite layout, it is one of the important Yi sacrificial vessels in Lingying Temple, fully reflecting the level of casting technology in Guangfo area in the Qing Dynasty.

The picture below shows the eight-treasure ceremonial guard, which was made in the 24th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (1898). It was used in the inspection ceremony of the Northern Emperor and was used to enhance the majesty of the ceremonial guard. There are eight pairs and sixteen pieces of the Eight Treasures Ceremony, which are based on the Taoist "Eight Immortals" patterns (fan, sword, fish drum, jade board, gourd, flute, flower basket, lotus) and the Buddhist "Eight Auspicious" patterns (wheel, conch) , buildings, umbrellas, flowers, fish, pots, knots), which shows the inclusiveness of Foshan Beidi's beliefs.

The picture below is the main deity of the ancestral temple - God Zhenwu Xuantian. The Wudang Mountain shared before is also enshrined in this deity. The article "Wudang Mountain" also introduces the "Iron God" that happened when Emperor Zhenwu first started practicing Taoism. The story of "Pstle Grinding Needle". Emperor Zhenwu is a northern god, how could he come to Lingnan? It turns out that there were many floods in the Pearl River Delta during the Tang and Song Dynasties. Beidi was the legendary northern water god. He controlled all the lobsters and crabs that caused trouble. The people of Chancheng invited Beidi to take charge of Chancheng. Strangely enough, from then on After that, there were no more floods in the Chancheng area. Cantonese people have the concept of using water as wealth, and the worship of Beidi has become a folk custom in the Pearl River Delta, which contains the good wishes of good weather and peace for the country and the people.

This seated Zhenwu statue has a full face, kind eyes, a smile, and a black moustache. It has a sense of solemnity and nobility. It is currently the largest Zhenwu seated statue of the Ming Dynasty in China and is a national first-class cultural relic.

The picture below shows lacquerwood statues of the Ming Dynasty, which are displayed in the front hall and main hall of the ancestral temple. There are 24 statues in total. They have different facial expressions and dynamic clothing, especially the standing statues. The posture is slightly leaning forward, condescending, and impressive. Combined with the dimly lit palace environment, it can give people a sense of mystery, solemnity, and majesty, which is particularly wonderful.

The statues on the walls of the temple are rich in color and lifelike:

On the south side of Lingying Temple are the Jinxiang Pool and the Lingying Archway.

Jinxiangchi was excavated in the eighth year of Zhengde in the Ming Dynasty (1513). During the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty, it was surrounded by stones and carved railings, giving it its current appearance. Nowadays, people in Foshan throw coins to the turtle and snake stone sculptures in the pond, which symbolize the turtle and snake generals under Beidi, and pray for good luck. The Lingying Archway was built in the second year of Jingtai in the Ming Dynasty. Because Emperor Jingtai of the Ming Dynasty granted the ancestral temple the title of Lingying Temple, the construction of the archway was particularly exquisite and magnificent, with green eaves and elegant clouds.

The southernmost building in the ancient building complex is Wanfu Terrace, which was built in the 15th year of Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1658). It is the most complete, most magnificently decorated and largest ancient stage in South China. The partition boards are decorated with a large number of golden lacquered wood carvings, making them look magnificent and magnificent. Foshan is the birthplace of Cantonese opera. In the past, the troupe took a red boat out to perform in various towns once a year. In order to pray for the Pak Emperor to bless the journey, the first performance after the formation of the troupe must be at Wanfu Terrace. It can be said that Wanfu Terrace has witnessed the development of Cantonese opera. The history and development of Foshan.

After turning around Wanfu Terrace, turn to the west, pass by the Cangzhen Pavilion, and come to the Foshan Ancestral Temple Historical and Cultural Exhibition Hall. Passing by a stall, a small stall displaying "rice engraving" handicrafts is displayed. It's amazing how clear Chinese characters can be written on grains of rice.

Let’s go into the museum to learn more about the history and culture of Foshan.

There are few temples in any city that are as important to Foshan as the Ancestral Temple. The Ancestral Temple was the highland of faith and spiritual destination of Foshan people in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The "Twenty-seven" inscriptions hanging outside the main hall of the Ancestral Temple are still there. The couplet "I worship this as my ancestor, and for hundreds of millions of years I am the only one who has been honored" is an incisive portrayal of the status of the ancestral temple in Foshan.

The main god enshrined in the ancestral temple is Emperor Zhenwu of the North, also known as Emperor Xuanwu. Xuanwu was originally a star worship in ancient my country. Ancient astronomers selected the twenty-eight stars as the symbols for observing the four seasons. The twenty-eight stars were divided into four groups, each group of seven stars, representing the four directions of east, south, west and north respectively. The animal images are named: the green dragon in the east, the red bird in the south, the white tiger in the west, and the basalt in the north, collectively known as the "four elephants".

Xuanwu is in the form of a turtle and a snake, controlling the north and controlling wind and rain. During the Tang and Five Dynasties, Xuanwu developed into a general who guarded tombs and housed residences, and was one of the four holy generals who respected the Great Arctic Ziwei. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Zhenwu (Xuanwu) belief developed from folk beliefs and Taoist gods to a state priest entrusted by the emperor. In the Ming Dynasty, from the royal family to the people, worship and worship of Zhenwu reached its peak. Zhenwu also evolved from the god of martial arts to the god of literature and emperor, and from a regional god to a national god.

(Bronze Xuanwu statue from Song Dynasty)

Guangdong is close to the South China Sea and is a water town. It has a special liking for Beidi, the god of water. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the worship of Bei Emperor became one of the important folk beliefs in the Pearl River Delta region of Guangdong. Temples dedicated to Bei Emperor were spread all over the country. Folk incense temple. Foshan Ancestral Temple has a special status because it has played a core role in integrating communities, fending off enemies and providing disaster relief, uniting tribes, and promoting democratic autonomy in the process of urban development.

(Fo Town Yicang Rice Distribution Scene: Foshan Yicang is a relief organization in Foshan, located in Qilin Society, Zumiaopu. Every time there is a disaster, Fozhen Yicang opens a warehouse for relief)

The Foshan Ancestral Temple was built in the Northern Song Dynasty and was called "Longzhu Temple" in the early days. Foshan's predecessor was composed of fifteen natural villages. There were nine social altars where villagers worshiped grains, commonly known as the "nine communities". Longzhu Temple is a unique sacrificial center for the villagers of Jiushe.

The sacrificial rituals of the Foshan Ancestral Temple include both the official Spring and Autumn Annals and folk sacrificial activities. Among them, the "Northern Emperor's Tour" is the largest sacrificial activity. On the sixth day of the first lunar month, the Northern Emperor sits in the ancestral hall. , the birthday of the Northern Emperor on the third day of March and the ascension of the Northern Emperor on the ninth day of September, the Northern Emperor will go on tour. At that time, "dozens of troops will be preached and the noise will be more than ten miles away", and the scene will be quite lively.

(Scene of Northern Emperor’s inspection)

In addition to historical customs, the exhibition hall also collects a large number of exquisite representative works of Lingnan arts and crafts during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, including copper and iron smelting, lacquer The dazzling array of statues of gods, gold-lacquered wood carvings, ceremonial guards, etc. make the ancestral temple known as the "Palace of Oriental Folk Art" worthy of its name.

(Grey sculpture of three blessings and good fortune)

(Grey sculpture of fan-faced landscape)

(Iron toad of the Qing Dynasty)

( Qipu statue)

(Five offerings: an incense burner, a pair of vases, a pair of candlesticks, as sacrificial utensils)

This is the historical and cultural display of the ancestral temple, go and take a look Other scenic spots in the ancestral temple.

In front of the exhibition hall, there is an iron tower of the ancient Jingtang Temple. It was cast in the ninth year of Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty (1731). It is an Ashoka-style tower. It contains relics and Buddhist relics. It was originally stored on the slope of the ancient temple. During the period, the rear temple was destroyed due to war, and the iron tower was restored and moved to the ancestral temple.

On the west side of the Iron Tower is the Confucius Holy Garden. It was built in 1911 by a group of local gentry who respected Confucius and raised funds. It is an important place for Foshan's Confucian respect activities.

The first thing you see after entering the park is the ancient Luozhilan Archway. The four-column and three-door-style stone archway is supported by stone brackets. It is small and exquisite, and has the characteristics of ancient Lingnan architecture. The front of the square is inscribed "Guluozhilan" and the back is inscribed "Jihua Liufang", both of which are words of praise for Foshan.

On the stone platform opposite the stone archway, there is a pair of bronze three-headed crane incense burners. This is an imitation of the three-headed crane incense burner in the Yangxin Hall of the Forbidden City in Beijing. It is a symbol of good luck and longevity.

Deep in the garden is the Confucius Temple. It is a single-eave roof-mounted building with three bays in width and three bays in depth. It has a bucket-style structure. There is a stone statue of Confucius inside. Under the statue of Confucius, there is the above-mentioned statue. "Five Offerings", the east and west walls are inlaid with stone rubbings of "Confucius Temple Stele".

There are also Sanyuan Pavilion, Wenkui Pavilion and other buildings in the garden. They are newly built antique buildings in the new century. They have upturned eaves and corners, connected pavilions and corridors, and are full of ancient charm.

In addition to its profound humanities, the garden has rugged rockeries, bright fish in the pond, sparse flowers and trees, elegant pavilions and beautiful scenery.

Less than three kilometers south of the Foshan Ancestral Temple, there is another historic site - Tongji Bridge. This bridge was built in the Ming Dynasty and spans the Luoshui River. It is the first large wooden bridge built in Foshan. However, it has been rebuilt many times and the surrounding river environment has changed greatly. What we see now is the newly built Tongji Bridge after 2000.