Qianqiu Pavilion Stele

Qianqiu Pavilion Stele

The Qianqiu Pavilion Stele is a cultural tourism attraction.

According to the "Book of the Later Han: Annals of Emperor Guangwu," it is recorded that Emperor Guangwu then ordered the relevant officials to set up an altar at Wuchengmo, Qianqiu Pavilion, south of Hao. On the sixth month, on the day of Ji Mo, he ascended the throne as emperor, offered burnt sacrifices to heaven, worshipped the Six Sovereigns, and paid homage to the various deities...

In the third year of Jianwu, in the sixth month, Liu Xiu defeated Wang Lang, captured Handan, reclaimed Hebei, and secured two-thirds of the empire, with the conditions for proclaiming himself emperor becoming increasingly mature. However, despite repeated pleas from his generals urging him to claim the throne, he repeatedly declined. It was not that Liu Xiu did not wish to restore the Han dynasty and proclaim himself emperor to unify the realm, but rather due to his concerns over lacking the "Mandate of Heaven" as a sign, fearing he could not win the hearts of the people.

As the army marched to the ancient city of Hao (present-day Guchengdian in Boxiang County), news suddenly arrived that Qiang Hua, an old classmate and Confucian scholar from Guanzhong, requested an audience. Liu Xiu welcomed him into his tent. Upon meeting Liu Xiu, Qiang Hua presented the "Red Hiding Talisman" and said: "The prophecy states, 'Liu Xiu raises troops to capture the unjust; the Liu clan cultivates virtue to become the Son of Heaven.' This is a decree from heaven signifying the revival of the Han dynasty, indicating that the Liu family should ascend, and Your Majesty must heed the will of heaven, proclaim the throne, and ascend the imperial seat—it must not be defied." Seeing that the moment had come, Liu Xiu no longer hesitated and approved the proposal. He then ordered the officials to set up an altar south of Hao and choose an auspicious day for the ceremony. The officials went to the southern outskirts of Hao City and selected the area near Qianqiu Pavilion (present-day Shiwuliupu, 15 li north of Boxiang County), between Wuchengmo, where they built an altar about several zhang high. They chose the day of Ji Mo in the sixth month as an auspicious day and invited Liu Xiu to ascend the throne. On that day, the sky was clear, the sun rose in the east, and Liu Xiu, wearing the imperial crown and dragon robe, was escorted by his generals to the southern outskirts. There, he offered burnt sacrifices to heaven, worshipped the Six Sovereigns, and paid homage to the various deities. The ritual officer read the sacrificial text, and Liu Xiu slowly ascended the altar, took his seat facing south, and received the congratulations of civil and military officials. He proclaimed the era name Jianwu and issued an edict granting amnesty. Historically, because Liu Xiu ascended the throne and the Han dynasty was revived, he came to be known as Emperor Guangwu.

In the third year of the Yuanhe era during the reign of Emperor Zhang, to commemorate Liu Xiu’s proclamation as emperor south of Hao, the Guangwu Temple was built at the sacrificial altar site of Qianqiu Pavilion. Today, the stele inscribed by Magistrate Zheng Zhen during the Qianlong Renyin era of the Qing dynasty, which reads "Ruins of Emperor Guangwu of Han at Qianqiu Pavilion," still remains.