regarded to be one of the ancestors of the Chinese nation.

According to Chinese folk hearsay, the legendary monarch lived more than 5,000 years ago and was the originator of the Chinese morality system.

The Temple of Shun was built in 738 AD in Yuncheng City in Shanxi province.

"Because the temple has been badly damaged by earthquakes, fires and wars, we have decided to restore it so as to better protect this historical heritage," said an official with the Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Administration.

The official said that the restoration work will take four years and that the restored temple will occupy an area of 20 hectares.

(People’s Daily 10/14/2000)