Five Sages Shrine

Situated on Green Mound beside Mata Lake. During the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, the Three Sages Shrine was first erected on this mound, housing statues of three virtuous men: Lu Zhonglian, Zhuge Liang and Su Dongpo.

A couplet was carved on the wooden pillars of the covered front veranda of the shrine: Three sages of different surnames, the Sleeping Dragon and Exiled Immortal, peerless men under heaven;

Generations gathered in one hall — a prime minister of Han, a Confucian scholar of Song, and a talent of the Warring States.

The main gate faces south with its back to the north, bearing another couplet: Men of different surnames bound by one loyal heart;

Three generations of outstanding talents assembled beneath one roof.

A pair of stone lions stands before the gate. To the east of the gate rises an eight-metre bell tower housing a huge bronze bell, while a fire pit lies to the west.

By the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Three Sages Shrine had fallen into ruins, leaving only one stone stele inscribed with Record of Reprinting and Renovating the Three Sages Shrine. The stele text contains the passage: "When ages pass and memories fade, should the shrine be rebuilt, future virtuous men shall add Yuan Gu and Yan Chu to form the Five Sages Shrine for perfect completeness."

In 1985, villagers of Huagou reconstructed the shrine on Green Mound. Statues of five ancient worthies — Lu Zhonglian, Su Dongpo, Zhuge Liang, Yan Chu and Yuan Gu — were placed inside in commemoration.

The Five Sages Shrine is a symmetrical courtyard complex built in the traditional antique style. Its main gate faces south, with two tall corner pavilions built at the southeast and southwest corners respectively. Entering through the gate, wing chambers line both sides, and the main shrine hall stands straight ahead. All buildings feature raised platforms and overhanging veranda eaves, presenting a simple, elegant antique aesthetic. A horizontal board above the main hall bears the inscription "Five Sages Shrine".

A couplet is written on the pillars of the front veranda of the main hall: Five sages of different surnames, their illustrious reputations passed down through ten thousand ages;

Talents of multiple eras under one roof, their meritorious deeds eternal for a thousand autumns.

Numerous poetic inscriptions can also be found on the gate pillars of the main shrine and the veranda pillars of the east and west wing chambers