The Chongwu Army Temple, also known as the Temple of the People's Liberation Army or PLA Temple (解放军庙), is a building which serves as half a secular shrine to fallen soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army and half a Buddhist temple. Built in 1996 by Zeng Hen, the temple stands in Chongwu, Fujian Province, China. It honors twenty-seven PLA soldiers killed by an attack from Nationalist forces in 1949, including soldiers killed while protecting Zeng.
On September 17, 1949, Nationalist forces from Taiwan attacked Chongwu during the Chinese Civil War.[1] The attack occurred when a PLA brigade was preparing to depart Chongwu beach for a landing on Jinmen and Xiamen islands.[2] A teenaged girl named Zeng Hen was also walking on the beach during the attack.[3] Five PLA soldiers threw themselves on top of Zeng to protect her and were killed.[2][3] Sources variously attribute the source of the bombardment that Zeng survived as an attack from a Nationalist ship[3] or plane.[1][2]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Memorial to 27 Fallen Heroes.
After the attack, Chongwu residents buried the soldiers and, in the local custom, built a simple shrine of straw and thatch.[4] Until this first shrine was torn down during a Maoist political campaign in 1971, residents worshipped at the shrine and burned incense and paper money.[4]
Establishmentedit
Zeng Hen planned to commemorate the PLA soldiers who saved her.[3] After a prolonged struggle with local authorities, Zeng Hen acquired the site where the attack took place.[3] She raised over 600,000 yuan in donations, and contributed 60,000 yuan of her own savings,[5] ultimately succeeding in building the temple in 1996.[1] The more modest 1996 temple was replaced with a more elaborate structure in 2005.[4] Zeng and her children manage the temple.[6]
The site is half devoted to the nominally secular commemoration of the twenty-seven PLA soldiers and half a Buddhist temple.[3] The temple complex covers 2,500 square meters.[7] It consists of a main hall, a memorial hall, two pavilions, a residence for the Zeng family, and a statute of a soldier holding a girl in his arms.[7] The temple's outward appearance is typical of temples dedicated to local deities in southeast China.[7]
The temple's altar bears twenty-seven wooden figures representing a military unit.[7] Behind them is an inscription in the style of a traditional spirit tablet which reads, "People's Liberation Army Martyrs."[7]
Cultural and political significanceedit
The Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government explicitly support the temple.[2] In 2017, Chinese state television broadcast a documentary about the temple and Zeng Hen's story.[4] High-ranking PLA officers have visited the temple, including Major General Shao Hua, daughter-in-law of Mao Zedong.[8] The local PLA garrison visits regularly.[9] Academic Jifeng Liu writes that the temple is included in Party study materials, consistent with Xi Jinpeng's goals of building a "new 'Communist civil religion.'"[10]
Some Chongwu locals venerate the twenty-seven PLA martyrs as deities who can perform miracles.[2]
The authenticity of Zeng Hen's story is disputed by two other Chongwu sites which venerate the twenty-seven PLA soldiers, the Martyr's Palace and the Memorial Hall.[11]
As of December 9, 2022, the identities of twenty-five of the PLA soldiers honored at the temple have been confirmed.[5]
Referencesedit
^ abcBrown, William N. (2023). Splendors of Quanzhou, past and present. Singapore: Springer. p. 85. ISBN978-981-19-8036-7. OCLC 1357103771.
^ abcdeLiu, Jifeng (2021-11-24). "Deifying Communist Soldiers: The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China". Asian Studies Review. 46 (4): 651. doi:10.1080/10357823.2021.1999904. ISSN 1035-7823. S2CID 244674139.
^ abcdLiu, Jifeng (2021-11-24). "Deifying Communist Soldiers: The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China". Asian Studies Review. 46 (4): 660. doi:10.1080/10357823.2021.1999904. ISSN 1035-7823. S2CID 244674139.
^Liu, Jifeng (2021-11-24). "Deifying Communist Soldiers: The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China". Asian Studies Review. 46 (4): 653. doi:10.1080/10357823.2021.1999904. ISSN 1035-7823. S2CID 244674139.
^ abcdeLiu, Jifeng (2021-11-24). "Deifying Communist Soldiers: The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China". Asian Studies Review. 46 (4): 658. doi:10.1080/10357823.2021.1999904. ISSN 1035-7823. S2CID 244674139.
^Liu, Jifeng (2021-11-24). "Deifying Communist Soldiers: The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China". Asian Studies Review. 46 (4): 662. doi:10.1080/10357823.2021.1999904. ISSN 1035-7823. S2CID 244674139.
^Liu, Jifeng (2021-11-24). "Deifying Communist Soldiers: The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China". Asian Studies Review. 46 (4): 662. doi:10.1080/10357823.2021.1999904. ISSN 1035-7823. S2CID 244674139.
^Liu, Jifeng (2021-11-24). "Deifying Communist Soldiers: The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China". Asian Studies Review. 46 (4): 664. doi:10.1080/10357823.2021.1999904. ISSN 1035-7823. S2CID 244674139.
^Liu, Jifeng (2021-11-24). "Deifying Communist Soldiers: The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China". Asian Studies Review. 46 (4): 660–662. doi:10.1080/10357823.2021.1999904. ISSN 1035-7823. S2CID 244674139.
January 01, 1970
chongwu, army, temple, also, known, temple, people, liberation, army, temple, 解放军庙, building, which, serves, half, secular, shrine, fallen, soldiers, china, people, liberation, army, half, buddhist, temple, built, 1996, zeng, temple, stands, chongwu, fujian, p. The Chongwu Army Temple also known as the Temple of the People s Liberation Army or PLA Temple 解放军庙 is a building which serves as half a secular shrine to fallen soldiers of China s People s Liberation Army and half a Buddhist temple Built in 1996 by Zeng Hen the temple stands in Chongwu Fujian Province China It honors twenty seven PLA soldiers killed by an attack from Nationalist forces in 1949 including soldiers killed while protecting Zeng The Chongwu Army Temple as photographed in 2008 Contents 1 Origins 2 Establishment 3 Cultural and political significance 4 ReferencesOrigins editOn September 17 1949 Nationalist forces from Taiwan attacked Chongwu during the Chinese Civil War 1 The attack occurred when a PLA brigade was preparing to depart Chongwu beach for a landing on Jinmen and Xiamen islands 2 A teenaged girl named Zeng Hen was also walking on the beach during the attack 3 Five PLA soldiers threw themselves on top of Zeng to protect her and were killed 2 3 Sources variously attribute the source of the bombardment that Zeng survived as an attack from a Nationalist ship 3 or plane 1 2 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category Memorial to 27 Fallen Heroes After the attack Chongwu residents buried the soldiers and in the local custom built a simple shrine of straw and thatch 4 Until this first shrine was torn down during a Maoist political campaign in 1971 residents worshipped at the shrine and burned incense and paper money 4 Establishment editZeng Hen planned to commemorate the PLA soldiers who saved her 3 After a prolonged struggle with local authorities Zeng Hen acquired the site where the attack took place 3 She raised over 600 000 yuan in donations and contributed 60 000 yuan of her own savings 5 ultimately succeeding in building the temple in 1996 1 The more modest 1996 temple was replaced with a more elaborate structure in 2005 4 Zeng and her children manage the temple 6 The site is half devoted to the nominally secular commemoration of the twenty seven PLA soldiers and half a Buddhist temple 3 The temple complex covers 2 500 square meters 7 It consists of a main hall a memorial hall two pavilions a residence for the Zeng family and a statute of a soldier holding a girl in his arms 7 The temple s outward appearance is typical of temples dedicated to local deities in southeast China 7 The temple s altar bears twenty seven wooden figures representing a military unit 7 Behind them is an inscription in the style of a traditional spirit tablet which reads People s Liberation Army Martyrs 7 Cultural and political significance editThe Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government explicitly support the temple 2 In 2017 Chinese state television broadcast a documentary about the temple and Zeng Hen s story 4 High ranking PLA officers have visited the temple including Major General Shao Hua daughter in law of Mao Zedong 8 The local PLA garrison visits regularly 9 Academic Jifeng Liu writes that the temple is included in Party study materials consistent with Xi Jinpeng s goals of building a new Communist civil religion 10 Some Chongwu locals venerate the twenty seven PLA martyrs as deities who can perform miracles 2 The authenticity of Zeng Hen s story is disputed by two other Chongwu sites which venerate the twenty seven PLA soldiers the Martyr s Palace and the Memorial Hall 11 As of December 9 2022 the identities of twenty five of the PLA soldiers honored at the temple have been confirmed 5 References edit a b c Brown William N 2023 Splendors of Quanzhou past and present Singapore Springer p 85 ISBN 978 981 19 8036 7 OCLC 1357103771 a b c d e Liu Jifeng 2021 11 24 Deifying Communist Soldiers The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China Asian Studies Review 46 4 651 doi 10 1080 10357823 2021 1999904 ISSN 1035 7823 S2CID 244674139 a b c d e f Lary Diana 2022 China s grandmothers gender family and aging from late Qing to twenty first century Cambridge United Kingdom Cambridge University Press p 136 ISBN 978 1 009 06478 1 OCLC 1292532755 a b c d Liu Jifeng 2021 11 24 Deifying Communist Soldiers The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China Asian Studies Review 46 4 660 doi 10 1080 10357823 2021 1999904 ISSN 1035 7823 S2CID 244674139 a b 惠安崇武87岁阿婆曾恨的心愿 为解放军庙的烈士找到 回家路 share fjdaily com Retrieved 2023 02 13 Liu Jifeng 2021 11 24 Deifying Communist Soldiers The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China Asian Studies Review 46 4 653 doi 10 1080 10357823 2021 1999904 ISSN 1035 7823 S2CID 244674139 a b c d e Liu Jifeng 2021 11 24 Deifying Communist Soldiers The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China Asian Studies Review 46 4 658 doi 10 1080 10357823 2021 1999904 ISSN 1035 7823 S2CID 244674139 Liu Jifeng 2021 11 24 Deifying Communist Soldiers The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China Asian Studies Review 46 4 662 doi 10 1080 10357823 2021 1999904 ISSN 1035 7823 S2CID 244674139 Liu Jifeng 2021 11 24 Deifying Communist Soldiers The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China Asian Studies Review 46 4 662 doi 10 1080 10357823 2021 1999904 ISSN 1035 7823 S2CID 244674139 Liu Jifeng 2021 11 24 Deifying Communist Soldiers The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China Asian Studies Review 46 4 664 doi 10 1080 10357823 2021 1999904 ISSN 1035 7823 S2CID 244674139 Liu Jifeng 2021 11 24 Deifying Communist Soldiers The Coastal Defence Culture and the Continuation of Apotheosis in Contemporary China Asian Studies Review 46 4 660 662 doi 10 1080 10357823 2021 1999904 ISSN 1035 7823 S2CID 244674139 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chongwu Army Temple amp oldid 1213251859, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
