Shanghai City God Temple: One Temple, Three City Gods

The Shanghai City God Temple is a historic Taoist temple located on Fangbang Middle Road in Huangpu District, Shanghai. It is not only a place for religious activities but also a famous tourist attraction and cultural symbol of Shanghai. The history of the City God Temple can be traced back to the Three Kingdoms period when Sun Hao, the ruler of Wu, established a shrine. Since the Tang Dynasty, City God Temples have been built in the Shanghai area. During the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Shouyue, the magistrate of Shanghai, converted the Jinshan Shrine of the Jinshan God, Hou Huo Guang, into the Shanghai City God Temple, dedicated to the City God of Shanghai, Qin Yubo. During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, the City God Temple was expanded, and gardens were added. Since then, the City God Temple has undergone multiple renovations and reconstructions, especially after its reopening in 1994, becoming an important site for tourists and worshippers. The Shanghai City God Temple is unique in that it is the only temple with "one temple, three city gods," unlike other City God Temples that only have one City God. It simultaneously enshrines three City Gods: Huo Guang, Qin Yubo, and Chen Huacheng. In the earliest local chronicles of the Shanghai area, "Yunjian Zhi," there is a legend about the origin of the folk worship of Huo Guang: During the Three Kingdoms period, Sun Hao, the ruler of Wu, was seriously ill. One night, he dreamed of Huo Guang possessing a servant and saying to him: "The wind and tides of Jinshan and Xiantang are causing harm, and the people are suffering. I, Huo Guang, was a meritorious minister of the Han Dynasty and have the ability to control sea disasters. If you worship me as a god and build a temple to worship me, you will recover from your illness and ensure the peace of the region." Soon after, Sun Hao recovered from his illness, so he built a temple to worship Huo Guang. Because the earliest Huo Guang Temple in the Shanghai area was located in today's Jinshan District, the sea-protecting god Huo Guang was also known as the "Jinshan God." Historically, there were up to nine Huo Guang Temples in Shanghai, and today's Shanghai City God Temple developed from the "Huo Guang Xingci" in Huangpu District. Qin Yubo, courtesy name Jingrong, also known as Rongqing, was a native of Daming Prefecture during the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. He was a seventh-generation descendant of Qin Guan (Qin Shaoyou), a famous poet and scholar of the Northern Song Dynasty. During the Zhizheng period of the Yuan Dynasty, he passed the imperial examination and later had a smooth official career, eventually becoming a Langzhong in the Fujian Province. In the late Yuan Dynasty, feeling disillusioned with the chaotic political situation, he resigned from his official position and retired to Changshouli in Shanghai County (now the Tiaoqiao area in Minhang District, Shanghai). Qin Yubo was known for his integrity and concern for the people's suffering, earning him a good reputation among the people of Shanghai. The founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, appreciated his contributions to the country and, in the sixth year of the Hongwu period (1373), conferred upon Qin Yubo the title of "Shanghai County City God, Zhengtang Xianyou Bo." During the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, he was further honored as the "Protector of the Sea." Chen Huacheng, courtesy name Lianfeng, was born in 1776 in Tong'an, Fujian. He joined the military at a young age and was repeatedly promoted for his outstanding military achievements. He was known for his strict discipline and integrity, earning him the reputation of a "frugal general." In 1842, when British forces invaded Shanghai, Chen Huacheng led his troops in resistance. However, due to the disparity in strength between the two sides, the Qing army fought until only three soldiers remained. Chen Huacheng was wounded six times and ultimately died heroically in battle. Later, Emperor Daoguang posthumously honored him with the title "Zhongmin," and Shanghai County built the Chen Gong Shrine to worship Chen Huacheng. Over time, due to his meritorious deeds and the Taoist belief in deification, Chen Huacheng was also worshipped as a revered City God of Shanghai for his contributions to protecting the city.