Location info and some photos withheld. As of my last visit, this mural site is vulnerable to theft or destruction. I have not stated the location beneath the county level and omitted any photographs (of steles, signs, scenery, etc.) that might identify the place. If you are an accredited scholar and you have a good reason to want to see this information, email me and we’ll talk about it.

Structure Type: Temple to the Perfected Warrior 真武廟 and a Temple to the Dragon Kings 龍王廟.

Location: Zhuolu County 涿鹿縣.

Period: No dates. Probably 18th century. The style and attire of the female figures bears a close resemblance to this 18th century Goddess Temple in Yu County, located about 80 kilometers away. I suspect that the two murals may be in the same hand, or at least from members of the same atelier.

Artist: Unknown.

Mural Contents: The Temple to the Perfected Warrior has paneled narratives of the Apotheosis 真武起聖錄, while the Dragon King Temple has rain-giving processions out and back from the Crystal Palace, 出宮入宮，雲遊行雨. Both murals are highly damaged, and only fragments are now visible. Nonetheless, they’re very beautiful.

Other Notes: Both of the temples were plastered over during the Cultural Revolution. The Temple to the Perfected Warrior was made into a schoolhouse (I think) and the Dragon King Temple became the nucleus for what is now the Village Brigade Headquarters 大隊. Now the plaster is pealing away to reveal the beautiful murals beneath. These sites are unprotected and deteriorating quickly – if anyone who reads this has money and wants to repair a Chinese temple, this seems like a good candidate.

Highlight Gallery

Full Gallery: The Temple of the Perfected Warrior

Full Gallery: The Temple of the Dragon Kings