The role of Yamen in Cing Dynasty

Youchang four major temples happen to form a rhombus pattern on the geographical position.

Yamen: Chinese, a government office or building.

Since Yuan-Shuai Temple had built in the end of Ming Dynasty, It occupied on the important position of the traffic routes, therefore its development was unusual prosperity, believers or devotees were very many, businessmen and shops gathered around it too. It became a role of Yamen in Cing dynasty gradually.

Identification of the ancient Stele

There is a stele made of granite in the wall of left-wing room.

In the wall of left-wing room of Yuan-Shuai Temple today, there is a stele made of granite. This stele is the oldest among all steles in the temple, it has been probably more than 100 years.

Miao-Gong(Person administering the affairs of temple) told us： "The Setle was originally erected in front of Yuan-Shuai Temple, then it was inlaid into the wall of the temple when the temple was rebuilt in 1985A.D."

Mr. Chu-Hua Sun talked about this stele too, she said this stele revealed Yuan-Shuai Temple's special role in Cing Dynasty. The name of the stele is Yan-Jin-Wu-Gai-Ciang-Suo-Heng-Sing( forbid evil beggar to blackmail residents), it was erected in 1848A.D. in Cing Dynasty and issued by Fongshan county Magistrate Jhao-Rong Guo and Yue-Jian Ding.

The content of Stele

The content of Stele is high-visible so far.

The content of Stele is very long nearly 1,000 words.

The content of Stele is very long nearly 1,000 words, its content is roughly as follows:

There are a lot of beggars who come from the other places entering into this village recent years, These beggars are in knots and blackmail villager who holds wedding or funeral or other activity. If the villager does not comply with, his property will be stolen and be robbed by these bad beggars. Now, Set up this stele and make the prohibitions against the bad: Forbid beggars to be in knots, ....... forbid beggars to blackmail villagers, ...... if anyone breaks the law, he will be punished and never be pardon.
Dao-Guang of Cing Dynasty 27th year (1848A.D)

Expert's Comment

This stele has historical value very much.

Yuan-Shuai Temple was acted a role of Yamen in Cing Dynasty.

Mr. Chu-Hua Sun told us:
"This stone tablet was erected in front of Yuan-Shuai Temple and issued government's prohibitions. Therefore, we can know: During Dao-Guang of Cing Dynasty, Yuan-Shuai Temple was a lively downtown and consequently attracted beggars stayed here. In ancient periods, the broadcast result that put up the announcement in the temple or erected stele in front of temple, was far greater than that put up on Yamen(Chinese, a government office or building). So, 'Yuan-Shuai Temple' was acted a role of Yamen in Cing Dynasty."