Built on Beigu Hill from 256 to 258, the
temple is said to be where King Liu Bei
of the Kingdom of Shu met with some
intrigue during the Three Kingdoms
Period (220-280). Liu Bei had “borrowed”
Jingzhou (today’s Jiangling in Hubei
Province) from King Sun Quan of the
Kingdom of Wu, but showed no intention
of returning it. Under a scheme worked
out by Wu general Zhou Yu, Sun Quan
invited Liu Bei to Zhenjiang, presumably
to marry his sister. But Sun’s real
intention was to take Liu Bei hostage
and force him to give Jingzhou back to
Wu. However, Zhu Yu’s plot was seen
through by Shu Prime Minister Zhuge
Liang (181-234), who sent Shu’s gallant
general Zhao Yun to accompany Liu Bei to
Zhenjiang. In the end, Liu Bei succeeded
in marrying Sun’s sister. Wu not only
lost the girl but also suffered a heavy
military setback in an ensuing battle
with Shu.
Plentiful Sights Tower (Duojinglou) is
the most beautiful place in the temple,
claiming to be the “first tower under
heaven.” The gate to Morning Due Temple
is inscribed with the words “first river
and hill under heaven,” said to be in
the handwriting of Emperor Wu Di of the
Liang Dynasty over 1,400 years ago. |