An historical study of Hua Tuo Temples in Henan province

Abstract

Hua Tuo was a medical figure renowned for his legendary magic medical skills in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He has been honored in history by temples or shrines built in memory of him. Based on the local records and historical books in Henan Province, Hua Tuo temples and shrines in this area were examined. A total of twelve temples or shrines were built in nine counties or cities in Henan province. They were mainly distributed in the counties of Shangqiu, Zhoukou and Xinyang along the Huai River, and were close to the hometown of Hua Tuo. Most of them were built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. They were named as Huatuo Temple, Medical Ancestor Huatuo Temple, Medical Ancestor Hua Gong Temple, Hua Zu Temple and Divine Doctor Huatuo Ancestral Temple.