Hebei Tourism: Exploring the Lvxian Temple of Yellow Millet Dream (Photo)
Near Handan, Hebei, there is a legendary scenic spot called the Lvxian Temple of Yellow Millet Dream, which was also the last stop of the reporter's self-driving 'Yan-Zhao Journey'. Around noon on May 3, 2007, the self-driving convoy departed from Jingniang Lake and arrived at the Lvxian Temple of Yellow Millet Dream, located in Huangliangmeng Village, ten kilometers north of Handan city, for exploration.
The temple gate of Lvxian Temple (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
According to historical records, the Lvxian Temple of Yellow Millet Dream was built based on the story of 'The Record of the Pillow' by Shen Jiji of the Tang Dynasty. The temple was first built in the Song Dynasty and was renovated and expanded in the 33rd year of Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty (1554 AD). Covering about 20 mu, it is a well-preserved group of Ming and Qing architectural complexes of grand scale. Within the temple courtyard, red walls are shaded by green trees, clear ripples spread, and blue smoke curls, combining the tranquility of northern Taoist temples with the elegance of Jiangnan gardens.
Photo at Yellow Millet Dream (Photo by Zhu Huashan)
Yellow Millet Dream is one of Tang Xianzu's 'Four Dreams of Linchuan' from the Ming Dynasty. The idiom 'Yellow Millet Dream' and Mao Zedong's poem 'A Pillow of Yellow Millet Reappears' both originate from here. Today, the Lvxian Temple of Yellow Millet Dream is not only an influential thousand-year-old Taoist temple in North China but also a key cultural relic protection unit in Hebei Province, a famous scenic spot both at home and abroad.
Screen Wall of Penglai Fairyland (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
When the convoy arrived, the travelers first saw the simple red gate of Lvxian Temple. The existing temple faces south, but its main gate faces west towards the ancient Handan Road. The 'Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl' glazed screen wall in front of the gate complements the plaque 'Handan Ancient Temple' above the gate.
Eight Trigrams Pavilion (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
After entering the gate, the first thing that stands before you is the Eight Immortals Pavilion. The pavilion is under renovation, so the eight Taoist immortals originally enshrined inside—Han Zhongli, Iron Crutch Li, Royal Uncle Cao, Elder Zhang Guo, Lü Dongbin, Han Xiangzi, Lan Caihe, and He Xiangu—cannot be seen.
Cave of the Immortals (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
The eight Taoist immortals roughly originated in the Yuan Dynasty. Initially, their names were not unified, and they were all male. It was not until the Ming Dynasty, when Wu Yuantai wrote the novel 'The Eight Immortals Depart and Journey to the East', that the characters were finalized. Since the eight immortals often roamed the mortal world, punishing evil and promoting good, saving the poor and resolving difficulties, their legends are widely spread among the people. The stories of 'The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea' and 'The Eight Immortals Celebrating Longevity' are especially popular. This pavilion was built at the end of the Ming Dynasty for Taoist priests to welcome the eight immortals for rest.
Lotus Pond (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
On the southern side in front of the Eight Immortals Pavilion, the screen wall is inlaid with a stone carving of 'Penglai Fairyland' in cursive script. The strokes are flying and vigorous, full of mythological color, and it is said to have been written by Lü Dongbin after he became an immortal. Opposite the screen wall is the Danmen Gate of the central axis building complex, above which originally hung a plaque inscribed by Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty, reading 'Fenglei Longyi Immortal Palace'.
Bell Tower (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
North of Danmen Gate is the central courtyard, which features a lotus pond with a bridge in the middle. In the center stands an octagonal pavilion with an eight-ridged roof, peaceful and elegant. Surrounded by red walls, the pond is fragrant with lotus flowers, refreshing the mind and heart. North of the pond are three gates, with the central one being the Meridian Gate bearing the inscription 'Cave of the Immortals', flanked by moon gates on the east and west.
Zhongli Hall (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Entering the Meridian Gate and heading north, you see the front-facing Zhongli Hall with a flush gable roof. It is three bays wide and three bays deep, with a front moon platform. Inside, a statue of Zhongli is placed, and the surrounding walls are painted with stories of immortals. The bell tower and drum tower are built on both sides in front of the hall, nestled among ancient pines and green cypresses, exuding the ancient charm of a Taoist temple.
Lü Ancestor Hall (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Passing Zhongli Hall and heading north, you enter another courtyard. The most magnificent hall in front is the main hall of the Lvxian Temple of Yellow Millet Dream—the Lü Ancestor Hall. It has a hip-and-gable roof with glazed tiles, three bays wide and three bays deep, with single-step verandas both front and back. The colorful bracket sets are intricately carved, and the flying eaves and upturned corners seem to look up at the sky. Inside the hall are statues of Lü Dongbin and a boy attendant, with five inscribed stone tablets embedded in the side walls. In front of the hall are a worship hall and a moon platform, with the East Queen Mother Hall and West King Father Hall on either side, each seven bays wide.
Lu Sheng Hall (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Lü Dongbin is the most famous among the eight Taoist immortals. Legend says he was a man of the Tang Dynasty named Lü Yan, styled Dongbin. The Quanzhen sect of the Yuan Dynasty honored him as one of the 'Five Northern Patriarchs', hence commonly called 'Lü Ancestor'. He was also known as Lü Chunyang due to being granted the title 'Chunyang Yan Zheng Jing Hua Fu You Di Jun'. His origins, experiences, and legends vary. One story says he originally had the surname Li and was a member of the Tang imperial clan. When Empress Wu Zetian killed members of the Li clan, he changed his surname to Lü, then underwent ten trials in hiding, finally receiving the golden elixir and becoming an immortal. He performed many deeds of saving the distressed. The story of 'Three Times Drunk at Yueyang Tower' is especially popular among the people.
The Palace Built During Guangxu's Reign (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Going around the warm pavilion from Lü Ancestor Hall and exiting through the back door, you reach Lu Sheng Hall, where Lü Dongbin enlightened Lu Sheng about the world. Lu Sheng is a character from the Tang dynasty legend 'The Record of the Pillow' (by Shen Jiji). His name was Lu Ying, styled Cuizhi. Inside the hall is a sleeping statue of Lu Sheng carved from bluestone, about five feet long, with one hand supporting his cheek and the other resting naturally on his hip. His head is to the west and feet to the east, lying on his side with legs slightly bent, appearing drowsy, dreaming his yellow millet dream. The statue is lifelike.
Stele Corridor (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
According to 'The Record of the Pillow': In the seventh year of the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, the young scholar Lu Sheng was on his way to the capital for the imperial examinations. He stayed at a small inn north of Handan and met a Taoist named Lu Weng, who gave him a celadon pillow. Lu Sheng then fell into a dream. In the dream, he married a woman from a distinguished family, rose rapidly, became a general and a minister, had five sons who all passed the imperial examinations, enjoyed all worldly wealth and honor, and died a natural death at over eighty. When he woke up, he realized the true meaning of life and saw that the yellow millet the innkeeper was steaming was not yet cooked.
Statue of Lu Sheng's Yellow Millet Dream (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
In front of Lu Sheng Hall, there are two intriguing stone tablets. The 'Plum Stele' features a plum blossom painting by Wang Runquan, a Jinshi from Handan, with his own poem on the back: 'Awakened from the yellow millet dream, one realizes the Dao; with a heart like the bright moon, one can seek plums.' It was presented to Lu Sheng. The 'Dream Stele' has the character 'dream' hollowed out in the middle, with a veiled acrostic poem carved around the inner edge. At first glance, it is hard to understand, but with careful study, its meaning becomes clear: it is a brief account of Lu Sheng's dream.
Yellow Millet Dream Scene (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
To the east of Lu Sheng Hall is a forest of steles. Stone tablets from the Ming and Qing dynasties are inlaid on the walls of the surrounding corridor. On both sides of the central axis are the palaces built at the end of the Qing Dynasty for Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu. Among the ancient buildings are rock gardens, fake hills, pavilions, and exotic flowers and plants, creating a quiet and elegant environment that has historically been a retreat for officials and warlords.
China Famous Dreams Museum (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Exploring the Lvxian Temple of Yellow Millet Dream, the travelers seemed to be immersed in a wonderful 'dream' culture experience. Today, the Lvxian Temple of Yellow Millet Dream is the only cultural scenic spot in China themed around 'dreams', and it enjoys high popularity both domestically and internationally, actively promoting international research and exchange on dream culture.
Mural of Golden Dream (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
In Japanese elementary school textbooks of the 1950s and 1960s, there is an article titled 'Handan Dream', and in folk drama, there is a play 'The Story of Handan' that has been staged. In the eastern part of Lvxian Temple, there is also a China Famous Dreams Museum, the first of its kind in China, which showcases 'dream' culture.
Mural of Having a Sweet Dream (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
The museum displays 31 dream themes in the form of exquisite murals, divided into categories such as ideal dreams, dreams of famous people, imperial dreams, love dreams, fortune dreams, court case dreams, and themed dreams. It broadly reflects the Chinese nation's relentless pursuit of an ideal society and perfect life, as well as the fearless spirit of fighting against natural disasters and evil forces.
Mural of Roaming in a Dream (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
Exploring the Lvxian Temple of Yellow Millet Dream not only gave the reporter and his team a new understanding of 'dreams' but also marked a relatively perfect end to the self-driving 'Yan-Zhao Journey'. The convoy set off on the return trip to Beijing, filled with joy and satisfaction. Along the way, the travelers enthusiastically competed over the vehicle radio to name idioms originating from Handan, such as 'Learning the Handan Walk', 'Changing Customs', 'Priceless', 'Returning the Jade to Zhao', 'Bearing the Rod and Pleading for Punishment', 'Mao Sui Recommending Himself', and 'A Word of Nine Tripods', which came like a string of firecrackers over the airwaves.
Mural of Dream of the Red Chamber (Photo by Feng Ganyong)
The self-driving 'Yan-Zhao Journey' convoy ended its trip at the Xushui service area on the Beijing-Shijiazhuang Expressway. Although they had only spent three short days together, they had built deep friendships. They reluctantly shook hands and said goodbye, promising to embark on another long journey together soon... (Text and photos: Feng Ganyong)
