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Chongqing News

Information about Luzu Temple (Luzumiao)

2019-09-09 09:33:51

Tao Lian, the owner of the Minguo Market, showing the map of Luzu Temple

An old lane of Luzu Temple

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Luzumiao (鲁祖庙) , an old residential area, is located near Jiefangbei, Yuzhong District. Luzumiao Traditional Landscape Area under construction is designed by 20 top designers throughout the globe, which will retain the format of the flower market, create a recreational flower street, transform Shihuishi Vegetable Market and construct a cultural market and Lu Ban Museum.

Similar to Shangqing Temple (Shangqingsi), you may wonder that where is the temple and what is its original appearance. In addition to the famous flower market, there used to be a street filled with bookstores. Let’s explore more information about Luzumiao.

Walls of Luzu Temple survived in the war

A map of Luzu Temple drew by Tao Lian

Old street near the busy business district

Jiefangbei is a fashionable and prosperous district, while Luzumiao presents its old features. Luzumiao hidden among skyscrapers is like an old man. Although many flower shops have moved, flower stalls along the narrow street neatly are there, reluctant to leave Luzumiao Flower Market, which was thriving for decades.

As the traditional landscape area in Yuzhong District, shops at Minsheng Road and Datong Road are under construction. Although it is near noon, there is still a stream of people selling flowers and vegetables here. Your pace unconsciously slows down when you notice traditional barbers and shoemakers along the street. The authentic Chongqing food, such as cold dishes, hot pot and Chongqing noodles, has become the best reward for local people.

“As one of the oldest flower market of the 1980s in Chongqing, Shihuishi Vegetable Market nearby is also the old vegetable market that Chongqing people are familiar with,” said Grandma Li, a resident near Lianhuachi Community, bought some seasonal vegetables and fruits with her basket. She said that the vegetables and fruits here are fresh and the cheapest in busy Jiefangbei.

An old building in Luzumiao

Luzu Temple over a hundred years

The Shangqing Temple has disappeared, then what about Luzu Temple? Li Zhengquan, a Chongqing folk-custom expert said that Luzu Temple was located at the entrance of Minsheng Road, where the Minguo Market is located now. Though the temple disappeared, some buildings are still there.

You can taste unique hot pot and Chongqing delicacies here. You can see a different scene downstairs. There are many amusements like Chongqing Pub, Minguo Teahouse and Luzu Local Opera. Tao Lian, over 60 years old, used to be a media worker and businessman. Six years ago, he decided to stay here. He said that Luzumiao, with a hundred-year history, is a street famous for the temple and also the best-preserved street in Jiefangbei. 

Tao Lian introduced that, a hundred years ago, Luzumiao, located at the ridge of Yuzhong Peninsula, was a wasteland. As Chongqing opened as a port, many businessmen gathered here, making areas near wharves and along rivers rare, so they began to look for a space to run their business. Then many buildings were to be constructed, making carpenters and other craftsmen gradually important workers for the change. In 1911, Luzu Temple was constructed on Minsheng Road donated by the Carpentry Association.

According to old men living nearby, the Luzu Temple was built for consecrating Lu Ban and several of his disciples. A two-floor building was built on both sides of the temple. A yard was formed in the middle and a stage was put up in the front of it.

Based on the memory, Tao Lian drew a picture of thriving Luzu Temple. Luzu Temple on the picture creates a quite busy scene. Local opera is performed on the stage. People are worshiping Lu Ban devoutly. Tao Lian said that Luzu Temple was one of the grand temples for the worship of Lu Ban in China.

Luzumiao used to be a street filled with bookstores

Tao Lian said that two walls downstairs are the remains of Luzu Temple survived in the war. He said that during the Anti-Japanese War, Japanese aircrafts bombed Chongqing. Areas near Jiefangbei and Jiaochangkou were completely ruined, while shops near the temple remained.

Though the temple was survived in the war, its function for worship gradually disappeared for the construction of Luzumiao Primary School and Minshenglu Primary School. Some construction materials in the temple were used for other purposes.

Tao introduced that according to Chinese traditions, objects were buried beneath large buildings such as temples. So there should be a secret beneath the temple, which is also an interesting part of Luzu Temple.

It was also a street filled with bookstores. The first building on Luzumiao Street was the “World Journal Bookstore” in the 1930s and 1940s, which was one of the largest cultural activity places in Chongqing at that time. On the painting of Luzu Temple, there are many shops like youth book shop, newspaper office and printing office. Luzu Temple was located at Minsheng Road, which was once the street filled with bookstores in Chongqing. Around the Chongqing Branch of the World Journal Bookstore on Luzumiao Street, there were at least 20 bookstores, including Fuxing Bookstore, Wanguang Bookstore, Youth Bookstore and China Bookstore. (Translated by Mao Qiao, Fathom Language Limited)

Editor:Jiang Yiwei