The Horse God Temple, as the name implies, was built in honor of the Horse God in AD 1504 and renovated in AD 1792 during Emperor Qianlong’s reign. As we all know, war-horses were very important for ancient warriors. Their physical condition might greatly affect the outcome of the battle. The Horse God is in charge of all the affairs of the war-horses, so people established temples to show their respect for him, hoping that their war-horses would become stronger. In dynasties such as Tang, Song, and Qing, people even held grand ceremonies every year to honor the Horse God.
The history of the Ming Dynasty is a history of war. The Japanese pirates and the nomadic tribes living to the north often harassed China. So many Horse God Temples were built during that period of time, including this one located at Juyongguan Pass. Inside the temple there is the shrine of the Horse God, the God of Rain and the God of Hay. Although the Horse God is not one of the major Chinese Gods, the temple is worth visiting because it is difficult for you to find in China another Horse God Temple as well-preserved as this one.
The Great Wall at Juyongguan Pass
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