Putian has produced many notable figures throughout its history. Among them, five were traditionally associated with the Temple of the Five Sages (五贤祠).

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During my visit to Putian in September 2024, I was unfortunately unable to locate the temple personally.

 

According to the historical account cited by Professor Chen, the temple was originally dedicated to four sages:

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• Gong Maoliang (龚茂良)

• Cai Xiang (蔡襄)

• Chen Junqing (陈俊卿)

• Lin Guangchao (林光朝)

 

Li Fu (李富) was subsequently added as the fifth sage, after which the shrine became known as the Temple of the Five Sages.

 

Over the centuries, many other distinguished scholars, officials, writers, and heroes emerged from Putian. While they were not necessarily part of the original Five Sages tradition, their contributions are also important to the history and heritage of the region. They are therefore included here alongside the Five Sages.

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Gong Mao Liang (龚茂良)

(1121AD – 1178AD) 

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​Gong Mao Liang obtained his Jinshi in 1138. He became a renowned imperial scholar who rose to prominence as a premier (宰辅) during the Southern Song dynasty. His reputation was built upon his integrity, diligence, and unwavering dedication to public service.
 
Gong was entrusted with some of the most crucial responsibilities in the empire, including the appointment, removal, and promotion of officials (Hu, 2021). He was known for his sharp political acumen, able to see through the hypocrisy and dishonesty of wayward imperial officials. His ability to discern genuine talent from corruption made him a key figure in the imperial administration.

As a high-ranking law enforcement officer, Gong Mao Liang did not hesitate to take decisive action against those who abused their power. When court officials improperly bestowed titles, he was swift to withdraw them, ensuring that only the most deserving received honor. His efforts to curb corruption, nepotism, and cronyism were instrumental in maintaining the integrity of the imperial bureaucracy.
 
The emperor acknowledged and praised Gong for his no-nonsense approach to governance, which had a profound impact on the imperial court. His contributions were not only in his administrative prowess but also in the moral clarity with which he approached his duties.

Gong Mao Liang, like many other great figures of his time, was deeply influenced by the teachings of Lao Zi and Confucius. These two pillars of Chinese philosophy shaped his approach to governance, ethics, and personal conduct, guiding China during one of its Golden Ages.

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Cai Xiang (蔡襄; 1012 AD – 1067 AD)

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Cai Xiang was a native of Fengting Town, located in Xianyou County, Fujian Province. A Jinshi of the Song Dynasty, he was widely celebrated for his mastery in calligraphy, literature, and tea culture. His contributions to these fields were so profound that he authored numerous influential works still appreciated today.
 
But Cai Xiang’s brilliance extended well beyond the written word. He was an early advocate for large-scale tree planting campaigns that lined roads for hundreds of miles. His vision helped green the landscape, improve public welfare, and beautify the empire.

As an imperial official, Cai Xiang was known for his unwavering integrity. He ruled with impartiality and had zero tolerance for corruption or misconduct among his peers. His reputation for honesty and upright governance earned him great respect at court.
 
In recognition of his service and moral stature, the emperor awarded him one of the highest positions within the palace. After his passing, he was posthumously honored with the title of "Loyalty and Benevolence" (忠惠), a testament to a life devoted to justice, culture, and the common good.

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Minister Chen Junqing (陈俊卿)

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Minister Chen Junqing was renowned for his fearless dedication to duty, even when it meant impeaching powerful ministers. His boldness, tempered with compassion, earned the admiration of the emperor, who praised him as possessing the "bravery of a benevolent man" (仁者之勇).

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One of Chen’s greatest strengths was his discerning eye for talent—he had an uncanny ability to identify the right general for the right task. As a statesman, he demonstrated exceptional skill in both governance and military affairs. Yet beyond the palace walls, he also had a gift for connecting with the common people. His popularity, along with the influence of his family's cultural values, helped foster education and civic virtue in his hometown of Yuhu (玉湖), or ‘Jade Lake’, in Putian.

 

The Chen family upheld a longstanding tradition of moral and scholarly cultivation. Their ancestral teachings emphasized the Four Pillars of Virtue: loyalty, righteousness, filial piety, and compassion (忠义孝慈), as well as classical studies and etiquette (诗礼经书), which served as the foundation for generations of upright officials (Chen, C. Y. 2020a).

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Although Chen Junqing advised people not to be extravagant in funerals, the emperor personally ordered a grand state funeral in his honor, when he passed away in 1186 AD (Chen, C.Y. 2020b). The Ministry of Transport was tasked with overseeing the arrangements—an extraordinary gesture reflecting Chen’s importance. At his tomb, the emperor had inscribed four virtues in his memory: "Honest, Loyal, Bright, and Sincere" (清忠亮直)—an eternal tribute to a man whose life embodied integrity and wisdom.

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Lin Guang Chao
(林光朝; 1114–1178 AD, known as 南夫子 or "Master of the South")
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Lin Guang Chao was a native of Xiuyu District, Putian County, part of the Xinghua Army region during the Song dynasty (modern-day Putian, Fujian Province).
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He attained the Jinshi degree through the imperial examination during the Song dynasty and went on to serve in several high-ranking government roles, including that of Minister. A prolific writer and respected lecturer, Lin's works were so influential that some were included in major Chinese encyclopedias. This literary contribution earned him the esteemed title "Master of the South" (南夫子).​ This is an honorific title associated with his scholarship and teaching.
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Upon his passing, he was posthumously awarded the honorary title of "Wenjie" (文节), a designation reserved for distinguished scholars.
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Lin Guang Chao is a shining example of perseverance. He did not pass the imperial examination on his first try, but he persisted, eventually succeeding and rising to prominence. Over his lifetime, he authored approximately 30 volumes, securing his legacy as one of the great literati of his time.

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Li Fu (李富; 1085AD – 1162AD)

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Li Fu was an extraordinary individual who donated his family's wealth to mobilize 3,000 soldiers in defense against the Jin army during the early Song dynasty (Li & Li, 2016).

He demonstrated a profound sense of social responsibility and patriotism, leading efforts in building bridges, undertaking water conservation projects, and supporting defense-related initiatives.
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Li Fu is fondly remembered for his kindness and generosity. According to Chen (2019), following his death, the Prime Minister of Hinghwa Fu during the Ming dynasty ordered a temple to be built in his honor, alongside four other revered figures.
 
As a result, the temple was renamed the Temple of Five Sages (明成化年间，兴化府太守岳建五贤祠，将李富奉入祠内).
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Their ancestral hometown is Yangwei Village, located southeast of Baitang Town in the Hanjiang District of Putian. This village has been home to the Li Clan since the Tang and Song Dynasties, and has undergone several renovations during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
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The memorial hall in the village also showcases an impressive list of Li imperial scholars, better known as Jinshi (进士).​

 

 

Other Notable Putian Figures
 

​Lin Run (林润; 1530–1569)​​

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Lin Run was born in the Xiawu District of Xinghua Prefecture (兴化府内下务巷) during the Ming dynasty, an area known today as Zhenhai Street in Licheng District, Putian City (今莆田市荔城区镇海街道).
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In 1556, Lin Run attained the Jinshi degree. He subsequently served in several important offices, including as a censor (监察御史) and later as Deputy Censor-in-Chief (右佥都御史). He was celebrated for his upright character and fearless pursuit of justice. Known for speaking truth to power, Lin Run enforced the law with unwavering integrity.
 

Lin Run as a censor and later as 右佥都御史, among other offices.

When bandits threatened the safety of the region, he rallied local men to defend their city and successfully expelled the invaders. Even when faced with powerful figures, including those connected to the imperial family, he upheld justice with courage and impartiality. Recognizing the need for systemic change, he gained the emperor’s approval to reform royal policies, ensuring they better served the common people.
 
During the Wokou crisis—a period when Japanese pirates raided coastal towns—Lin Run urged the state to allocate relief funds and implement tax breaks to help citizens recover and rebuild their communities.
 
Despite holding high office, he lived modestly in a rundown home within a quiet neighborhood. His humility and dedication moved the emperor, who ordered the construction of a mansion for him in the thriving Xiawu District.
 
Lin Run’s final appointment was as Governor of Yingtian, where he served for three years before passing away from illness. His legacy, however, endured—not only as a paragon of virtue and reform but also through his lineage.
 
One of his descendants, Lin Lan Ying, would later become a pioneer of modern technology in China, influencing one of the most powerful nations in the modern world. The legacy of Lin Run lives on, not just in history books, but in the progress and innovation of the generations that followed.

Chen Wen Long

The eighth-generation ancestor, Wenlong Gong, was styled Junben, and was the top scholar in the imperial examination of Xianchun. He was given the name Wenlong. He served successively as the secretary of the Privy Council, the vice-chancellor, the envoy to Fujian and the governor of Xinghua Army. When the Yuan army besieged the city, the magistrate Cao Chengsun surrendered the city. They took the Gong to Hangzhou and visited the Yue Temple. He died in the temple on April 26, the second year of Jingyan (1277). He was buried on the left of Zhiguo Temple in West Lake. A forest of thorny bamboos grew on his tomb.

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Huang An (黄岸; 680–762 AD)

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A native of Huang Xiang, Putian (莆田黄巷), Huang An is regarded as the founding ancestor (始祖) of the Huang clan in Fujian (Zhou, 2008I, p. 16). He was the 12th grandson of Huang Yanfeng (黄彦丰), the first Huang known to migrate from Henan (河南固始) to Fujian with his father, Huang Zhiyuan (黄知远). During the Tang dynasty, they traveled from Fujian to Hanjiang via Fuzhou (Huang Z.X., 2012).

Huang An was also the grandfather of Huang Pu, who later earned the prestigious Jinshi title. Huang An himself served as Prefecture Governor (刺史) of Guizhou, and also held the role of County Magistrate (县令). During his tenure, he was known for promoting social policies, including the introduction of the "Four Virtues" (四德) for girls’ education: behavior, speech, appearance, needlework, and cooking.

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Huang Tao (黄滔; 840–911 AD)

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Born in Dong Lixiang, Putian County (莆田县东里巷), now part of Licheng District, Huang Tao was the first ancestor of the Huang clan in that region (Lin Z.Q., 2018). A celebrated poet of the late Tang dynasty, he authored over a hundred poems compiled in the Jingguan’an Poetry Collection (静观庵诗集) (Sina, 2020). His works became part of the Complete Library of the Four Branches of Literature (四库全书), China’s classical literary treasury, earning him the title Master of Literature.

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Huang Gongdu (黄公度; 1109–1156 AD)

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A native of Dong Lixiang, Putian (now in Licheng District) (Lin Z.Q., 2019), Huang Gongdu came from a family of high achievers. His grandfather, father, and two elder brothers all attained the title of Jinshi in their respective exams.

The emperor personally acknowledged Huang Gongdu’s success, appointing him as a Judge (判官) to the Pinghai Military Prefecture (平海军). He later became a respected scholar and poet. However, his prominence drew the jealousy of senior official Qin Gui (秦桧), who falsely accused and impeached him. After Qin Gui’s fall, Huang was reinstated and promoted to Imperial Examiner (外郎) by Emperor Gaozong, who recognized his brilliance.

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A prolific writer, Huang Gongdu authored numerous well-known poems, including:

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• Pusaman Bodhisattva (菩萨蛮)

• Divine Operator (卜算子)

• Sand Washing Stream (浣溪沙)

• A Plum Blossom (一剪梅)

• Passage of a Thousand Autumns (千秋岁)

• Bewitching Eyes (眼儿媚)

• Chaozhong Cuo (朝中措)

• Temple of Shunji (题顺济庙)

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Though Chaozhong Cuo does not translate directly, it is typically understood as a rhythmic poetic form or "conjunction." Huang Gongdu's life and legacy embody resilience and moral integrity. He is remembered as a Righteous Sage, whose example teaches that righteousness will always triumph over adversity.

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Note: The figures mentioned above are just a few of the many distinguished individuals from ancient China. Others are introduced in their respective sections.

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