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1500 Broderick Street • Oroville
Open Daily - 12:00 - 4:00p.m.
Closed - Dec 15 - Jan 31
Admission - $2.00
Children Under 12 Free
Group Tour Discounts
(15 or more) - $1.50
For More Information and Group Reservations Call 530.538.2496
A Long History
The Oroville Chinese Temple was built in 1863 to serve a community
of 10,000 Chinese. It includes three seperate temples for each of the major
ways of life in China. The main temple is called Liet Sheng Kong-
Temple of the assorted deities. It is a place of prayer for various
worships including Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism.
The Chan Room is a Confucian room for reverence of ancestors.
Confucius taught that all human relationships depend upon
maintenance of the family.
The Moon Temple, so called because of its entrance, is Wong Fat
Ton-Hall of the Yellow Buddha.
The Council Room served a variety of civil and cultural needs of
the worker, such as banking, letter writing, discipline and arranging
for the burial of the dead.
A major flood in 1907 decimated the Chinese community so that most
Chinese left Oroville. Some returned to China while others moved to
Sacramento or San Francisco. The Chan Family then assumed responsibility
for the temple. It was deeded to the City of Oroville in 1937 and it was
first opened to visitors at the time of California's Centennial in
1949.
Tapestry Hall
A new addition to the temple was completed in 1968. Tapestry Hall was
built to display the extensive collection of embroidered tapestries,
parade parasols, and other objects of beauty and value which characterize
the best of Chinese folk art.
Art was never separate from religious and ethical teachings in China.
All objects in everyday use by the common people of China were
ornamented by the same symbols seen on these tapestries. The symbols
express the religious ideas of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism -
combined and repeated over and over. Presented on happy occasions,
the tapestries are mostly red, which is the color of happiness. The
tapestry repeats the wish for happiness, long life, good fortune and
many sons.
Some of the symbols are:
Phoenix - brings happiness;
Unicorn - brings noble sons;
Buddha lion -
symbol of power and valor;
Deer, crane, peach - symbols of longevity;
Bat, butterfly, shou - symbols of joy.
Display Hall
The potteries, bronzes, wood, lacquerware, textiles and other objects
of Folk Art are typical of those used by the Chinese during the period
of the temple community in Oroville. The Cullie Room contains a
collection of Chinese and American costumes arranged to contrast the
two cultures by each decade from 1850 to 1930. The Cullie Room was
added during the Bicentennial year.
Puppets
The three dimensional puppets are from the Oroville Chinese Opera
Theatre. The rare shadow puppets are displayed to suggest a
performance. The puppets indicate the variety and color of the
ancient folk theatre used to entertain and teach generations of
non-literate Chinese.
The Garden
A Chinese garden is not an idle pleasure garden, but deliberately
designed as a quiet retreat. It is a place for meditation and reflection.
All its parts are symbolic reminders of the religious principles which
guide the search for the Way-Tao.
The Chinese Garden is an expression of artistic ideas which have
emerged from an intimate feeling for nature. Like Chinese landscape
paintings known as "Shan Shui" (mountains and water), the essential
elements are stones, representing mountains and water. Trees and
flowers are added to the garden, as well as decorative garden
architecture, pavings, the pavilion, arbor, walls and gates.
All the plants growing in this garden originated in China. Flowers
are not chosen alone for their beauty, but as growing symbols for
Taoist ideas. For example, the peony, chrysanthemum, and peach
blossoms are symbols for prosperity, long life and happiness. The
bamboo, pine and plum are emblems of longevity.
The Oroville Chinese Garden is a memorial to the original Chinese
Temple families and the many benefactors of the temple restoration.
This is one of very few Chinese gardens open to the public in the
United States. It is maintained by the Oroville Parks Department
and docent volunteers.
* Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and
California Landmarks.
Visit U.C. Berkley's
Bancroft Library for
more information, links and pictures regarding Chinese culture in Oroville.
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Pixels by Design