踏溯台南

踏溯台南

文學院 通識教育課程

Gate of Urn-Shaped Castle and the Stony Plates

Route Introduction


Temple of the Five Concubines

 

   This harbors the graves of and temple dedicated to Emperor Ningjing of the Ming Dynasty and his five concubines. In 1683, Shi, Lang of the nascent Qing Dynasty invaded Taiwan and general Zheng, Keshuang decided it was best to surrender outright rather than to fight. In order not to be humiliated by the enemy, the emperor decided to commit suicide. Following the example of Ningjing, his five concubines hanged themselves and were buried here. The tragic beauty of these chaste ladies' deaths has been lauded by poets and writers and legendary stories abound.