Sun Stone

Sun Stone

The hill where Yuwang and Donglei meet is called Mohu Mountain. On Mohu Mountain lies a Sun Stone. It is a massive rock lying diagonally toward the east, measuring 7.5 meters in length and 2–4 meters in width, narrower at the front and wider at the back, with a flat surface. At the top are carved two large circles, with diameters of 18 cm and 25 cm respectively. One of these circles has a simple design in the center, possibly representing the moon, while the other is surrounded by 21 lines symbolizing rays of light — undoubtedly representing the sun. Beneath the Sun Stone are seven holes about the size of chicken eggs, arranged in a pattern resembling the Big Dipper. The stone surface also features several chessboard-like patterns as well as some oddly shaped symbols and circular holes resembling star maps.

In the ancient Chinese historical text “Book of Documents” (Shang Shu), it is recorded that Emperor Yao sent Xi Zhong to the east, to Tang Valley, to worship the sun. The location of Tang Valley has been widely debated over the centuries, with many scholars racking their brains over it. Wang Liangshi of the Qian-Jia School during the Qing Dynasty conducted a boat-based survey along China’s eastern coast, traveling as far north as Penglai in Shandong and as far south as Kuaiji in Zhejiang. He eventually concluded that Tang Valley was located at Donglei on Yuntai Mountain. Later, Shi Liangcai, Xu Qiaolin, and others further confirmed that Tang Valley should be at Donglei. Today, at the very location they identified, a stone named after the sun has been discovered, with carvings of the sun and other symbols related to worship — which can hardly be a mere coincidence. Not long ago, not far to the east of the Sun Stone, near the ruins of a small temple, another sundial was found carved into the rocks, with fine and accurate lines.

Shortly after the discovery of the Sun Stone was announced, it garnered significant attention from the academic community, prompting numerous articles discussing the relationship between the activities of ancient Eastern peoples and the Sun Stone. Some even linked the Sun Stone to the distant migration of the Shaohao people to South America, comparing the sun motifs with the totems of indigenous South Americans and noting great similarities.

Source: Party History Work Office of the CPC Lianyungang Municipal Committee