The Zhugong Well Pavilion

The Zhugong Well Pavilion

The Zhugong Well Pavilion is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

The Zhugong Well Pavilion is located on West Street in Dongshan Town.

The well was built during the Ming Dynasty. In the 24th year of the Jiajing reign (1545), a severe drought occurred, drying up Lake Taihu and leading to water difficulties for the people of Dongshan. Local elders then proposed raising funds to dig a well to address the water shortage. Once the well was completed, it brought great benefits to the surrounding residents. To honor the founders and contributors, it was named the “Zhugong Well” to ensure the memory would endure.

The pavilion was built during the Qing Dynasty. According to old customs in Dongshan, the most lively event in early January was the “Mengjianghui” (General Meng’s Assembly). The people of Dongshan referred to the deity General Meng as “Hui” and held him in high reverence. According to the Ji'fu Tongzhi (Comprehensive Gazetteer of the Capital Region): “General Liu Meng, whose given name was Chengzong, was from Wuchuan County, Guangdong. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, he served as a commandant. During locust plagues and droughts in the regions of Jianghuai, he led troops to drive away pests. After the fall of the Yuan Dynasty, he drowned himself in a river, and locals worshipped him.” In the second year of the Yongzheng reign (1724), an imperial decree mandated the worship of Liu Chengzong across provinces, prefectures, and counties. Since the deity had the power to expel locusts and was enshrined in the Daqing Huidian (Great Qing Code), his worship has been passed down through generations, with the people venerating him as the “God Who Benefits the People.” Initially, when the people of Dongshan tried to create an image of General Meng, they struggled to visualize his likeness—until the deity appeared in a dream as a child. Once the statue was sculpted and carried through the streets, when it was placed briefly on the edge of the Zhugong Well while resting, the bearers found it impossible to lift again. Interpreting this as the deity's wish to be enshrined there, they established a place of worship at the well. As this was the first image of the deity to be worshipped in Dongshan, he became known among locals as the “Zhugong Well (Mengjiang) Elder,” and the pavilion was built here in his honor.

The pavilion is 3.35 meters wide and 7.56 meters deep. The front section and the central section above the well are open, with stone seating along both sides for people to rest. The well is located in the center of the pavilion, encircled by an octagonal bluestone well curb. The rear section is separated from the central area by a lattice screen, with double wooden lattice doors at the center. Inside, a statue of General Liu Meng is enshrined. The integrated structure of the well and pavilion makes the Zhugong Well Pavilion a multifunctional Ming and Qing architectural site serving religious, folk, and fire prevention purposes.

Dongshan Town: Located southwest of Suzhou, Dongshan Town is 37 kilometers from the ancient city of Suzhou and is a shining pearl on the shores of Lake Taihu. Covering a total area of 96.55 square kilometers, the town administers 13 villages (communities) with a current permanent population of 54,000. Surrounded by water on three sides, Dongshan enjoys a pleasant climate and abundant natural resources. It is famed as a “mountain of flowers and fruit” and a “land of fish and rice,” earning titles such as “China’s Hometown of Biluochun Tea” and “China’s Hometown of Taihu Lake Crabs.” Seasonal specialties abound year-round, including Biluochun tea, white sand loquats, black-purple bayberries, Taihu hairy crabs, various premium vegetables, and rare Taihu aquatic products. “There are fruits in every season, flowers every month...” More information about Dongshan Town++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units