Site of the Recitation Chamber

Site of the Recitation Chamber

The Site of the Recitation Chamber is a cultural heritage site protected by Songxi County.

The Site of the Recitation Chamber is located on the mountainside of Zhanlu Mountain in Chaping Township, Songxi County. Dating back to the Song Dynasty, it measures approximately 30 meters in length, 20 meters in width, and covers a construction area of about 600 square meters. According to the Jianning Prefecture Records: “Zhanlu Mountain is situated to the south of Songxi County. It extends to Dongguan and Shanxi, spanning two li to the border of Zhenghe. The mountain features steep terrain, often shrouded in clouds and mist. It was the place where King Zhan forged his swords.” In 1148, during the Shaoxing era, Zhu Xi passed the imperial examination and, in accordance with ancient rites, traveled to Zhenghe to pay respects at his ancestral graves. He built a chamber on Zhanlu Mountain, where he studied and meditated, naming it the Recitation Chamber. The site of the Recitation Chamber features a two-courtyard terraced foundation, with only some wall bases and fragments of walls remaining today. The protected area extends 10 meters outward from the perimeter in all directions; the construction control zone extends an additional 10 meters outward from the boundary of the protected area.

Chaping Township: "Located to the south of Songxi County town, 8 kilometers from the county seat. Originally named Shengping, it was renamed Chaping due to its extensive tea cultivation. In the early years after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, it was part of Chengguan District. In 1961, Chaping Commune was established, and in 1984, it was restructured as Chaping Township. The township covers a total land area of 84.3 square kilometers, including 92,720 mu of mountainous land, 18,298 mu of arable land, and governs 10 village committees, 36 natural villages, and a population of 14,000. The land is fertile, water resources are abundant, and the natural conditions are favorable. It is known for producing rice, flue-cured tobacco, tea, fruit, aquatic products, and tubers. The township has 11,000 mu of tea plantations and 19,360 mu of bamboo forests. Township enterprises… Chaping Township detailed information++"