The family temple of the "Chinese Door God": Yuchi Jingde Temple in Shuozhou.

Shuozhou is the hometown of Yuchi Jingde, and there is a memorial temple here that specifically tells his life story. Yuchi Jingde Temple is located on the east side of Chongfu Square, covering an area of about 6,000 square meters. It is a two-entrance courtyard building from the Liao and Jin Dynasties, consisting of the mountain gate, Zhongwu Hall, Zhaoshen Hall, and the east and west side halls. Because I always see this adult in the door god painting, I feel familiar in my heart. But I don't really understand why he became a door god and was posted on the doors of every household. ‍‍‍‍‍ Yuchi Jingde is good at using horse spears (shuò, ancient weapons, long pole spears), and is known as a brave man. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, he was a partial general of Liu Wuzhou. In the third year of Tang Wude (620), Li Shimin, the king of Qin, recruited Liu Wuzhou and surrendered to Tang. Later, he fought against Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande, Liu Heita, Xu Yuanlang, etc. from the King of Qin, and he entered the battle alone, and repeatedly made military exploits, and was appointed as the left third deputy guard of the Qin King's Mansion. In the ninth year of Wude (626), the Xuanwu Gate Incident broke out. Yuchi Jingde shot and killed Prince Qi Yuanji, and was the first minister of the Qin King to seize the title. In the early years of Tang Taizong's Zhenguan, he was promoted to the right Wu Hou general, and was named the Duke of Wu, and later served as the commander of Jingzhou Road, the governor of Xiangzhou, and the governor of Tongzhou. In the eleventh year of Zhenguan (637), he was renamed the Duke of E, and he was the governor of Xuanzhou. In the seventeenth year of Zhenguan (643), he retired and was appointed as the three divisions of the same office. Taizong conquered Liao, and he was the governor of Bingzhou, and he was named Zhongwu and was buried in Zhaoling. After a simple understanding of Yuchi Gong's life, combined with the introduction in the temple, you will understand why he became a door god. It is said that Tang Taizong often had nightmares in his later years and could not sleep at night. Yuchi Jingde and Qin Qiong were wearing armor and guarding the gate of the sleeping palace all night. Later, Taizong ordered Chu Suiliang to paint the two on the door to suppress the ghosts and gods. Later, it was passed on to the people, and Yuchi and Qin Qiong gradually became the "Chinese Door God". The mahogany screen in the Zhongwu Hall of Yuchi Jingde Temple is 7m high, 10m wide, and about 20cm thick. It is all carved from rosewood and ebony. It is currently the largest mahogany screen in the world. Yuchi Jingde Temple