安国药王庙, Temple of Medicine deity in Anguo, China
Anguo Medicine King Temple is a walled complex of 3,200 square metres built on an east-west axis, entered from the west. Along the central line stand a decorated archway, a horse hall, a hanging-flower gate, the tomb pavilion over Pi Tong's grave, the main hall and a rear hall, with bell and drum towers and a hall of famous physicians flanking them.
The temple was built during the Ming Yongle reign around the tomb of Pi Tong, a healer remembered as the Medicine King, and it is the largest medicine king temple in China. It was expanded and repaired in the Jiaqing reign of the Qing dynasty and was listed in 2001 among the fifth batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.
The temple commemorates Pi Tong, a physician of the Eastern Han, and its name hall honours famous doctors of later eras. Anguo's role as a medicine market is tied to the temple: the great药材 fair held here each spring and autumn drew traders from across north China. Visitors can look for the side hall dedicated to celebrated physicians.
The temple sits inside Anguo's city area and is entered from the west, since the complex is oriented with its back to the east; the gatehouse, horse hall, hanging-flower gate, tomb pavilion, main hall and rear hall follow one axis over 3,200 square metres. Look for the bell and drum towers and the hall of famous physicians flanking that line.
The temple is the largest of China's medicine king temples, and its main hall enshrines Pi Tong, a general of the Eastern Han who was later revered as a healing deity. The complex was built around his tomb during the Ming Yongle reign and was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2001.
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