Miyang Wenchang Palace in Mile City, Honghe

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Wenchang Palace (文昌宫) is located in the central area of Miyang Street (弥阳街道), Mile City (弥勒市), Yunnan Province. It was originally built in the 3rd year of the Tianqi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1623). The current structure is a wooden building with a triple-eaved hip-gable roof, rebuilt in the 15th year of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty (1889).

The palace faces south with its back to the north, standing on a 1.9-meter-high platform base, with a seven-step stairway and an 80-square-meter Tianzi Platform (天子台) for rituals. It features carved beams and painted rafters, preserving traditional craftsmanship. Historically, it served as the prefectural academy, a temple for sacrifices to Wenchang Dijun (文昌帝君), and later, during the Republic of China, as a school. In 1998, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit of Yunnan. Today, together with the neighboring Jianguo Tower (建国楼), it forms a historical architectural complex and remains an important carrier of Wenchang culture in southeastern Yunnan.

• Location: No. 110, North Ring Road, Miyang Street (弥阳街道), Mile City (弥勒市)
• First Built: 1623 (Ming Dynasty, Tianqi era)
• Rebuilt: 1889 (Qing Dynasty, Guangxu era)
• Architecture Type: Wooden structure with triple-eaved hip-gable roof
• Protection Level: Provincial-level protected cultural relic unit (since 1998)
• Area: about 256 square meters

Historical Development

When first built in 1623, Wenchang Palace (文昌宫) functioned as the prefectural academy of Mile Prefecture. In 1889, the Main Hall was rebuilt on the original site. During the Republic of China, it was converted into a primary school. In 1981, it was designated as a county-level protected cultural relic, later upgraded in 1998 to a provincial-level unit. Following the 2023 renovation of Wenchang Street, the site, together with Jianguo Tower (建国楼), became the core landscape of Wenchang Cultural and Creative Plaza.

Architectural Features

The main building is a raised-beam wooden structure with a triple-eaved hip-gable roof. It measures 20.1 meters in width, 11.9 meters in depth, and 24 meters in total height. Its features include:

• Platform and Stairway: Built on a 1.9-meter-high stone base with a seven-step stairway at the main entrance.
• Decorative Craftsmanship: Dragon-head cloud carvings adorn beam and column heads, with phoenix and floral carvings under the eaves.
• Spatial Layout: A five-bay, three-depth hall arrangement with an 80-square-meter Tianzi Platform (天子台) in front for rituals.

Details such as stone lion column bases and heavenly-vase decorations reflect the unique characteristics of late Qing architecture in southeastern Yunnan.

Functional Evolution

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Wenchang Palace (文昌宫) fulfilled three key functions:

• Confucian Education: Served as the prefectural academy, educating local scholars.
• Religious Worship: Dedicated to Wenchang Dijun (文昌帝君), with seasonal sacrifices held in spring and autumn.
• Cultural Activities: Hosted Dongjing music performances.

In the Republic of China era, it was repurposed as a primary school, and three classrooms from this period survive. Since 2024, it has also served as the office of the cultural relic management institute and is open to the public.

Cultural Value

Wenchang Palace (文昌宫) holds triple cultural significance:

• Architectural Art: A complete example of Qing dynasty triple-eaved hip-gable construction, with dougong brackets and flying eaves recorded in Survey of Ancient Architecture in Yunnan (云南古建筑测绘集).
• Educational Heritage: Murals depicting themes such as “Kui Xing Pointing to the Dipper” and “Fish Leaping over the Dragon Gate” reflect imperial examination culture.
• Religious Significance: The largest surviving temple in southeastern Yunnan dedicated to Wenchang Dijun (文昌帝君).

Research in 2024 emphasized its exemplary value for studying the evolution of Confucian architecture in the Ming and Qing periods.

Associated Buildings

Together with Jianguo Tower (建国楼, built in 1947), Wenchang Palace (文昌宫) forms a historical architectural complex with three key associations:

• Geographic Proximity: Both are located within the No. 110 North Ring Road compound.
• Functional Complementarity: Representing, respectively, the Ming-Qing prefectural academy and a Republican-era administrative building.
• Joint Protection: Listed together as provincial-level protected cultural relics in 1998.

After the 2023 redevelopment, the new Xiong Qinglai Memorial Hall (熊庆来纪念馆) was added, forming a cultural exhibition axis alongside Wenchang Palace (文昌宫).