Nanzhang Phoenix Terrace Ruins

Nanzhang Phoenix Terrace Ruins

The Nanzhang Phoenix Terrace Ruins are a protected cultural heritage site of Shandong Province.

The Phoenix Terrace is located in the western suburbs of Jining, on the north bank of the Grand Canal and south of National Highway 327. Nanzhang Town in Rencheng District, where the Phoenix Terrace is situated, has a long history and rich cultural resources. As early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the light of Chinese civilization could be seen here. Archaeological surveys have found that within the tens of meters of accumulated earth layers at the Phoenix Terrace site, there are rich ancient relics. The lowest layer belongs to the Longshan Culture remains, while the middle layer is a Shang and Zhou cultural site. In 1985, the Phoenix Terrace ruins were designated as a key cultural relic protection unit of Jining City. In 1986, a field archaeological excavation was conducted here by the training class for archaeological team leaders of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, unearthing nearly 300 artifacts, which are now housed in the provincial archaeological institute. In 2006, it was announced as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit by the provincial government.

The "Phoenix Terrace," also known as the "Fenghua Terrace," was a platform for the education of the Feng clan and was a place where ancient people worshipped Taihao Fuxi. Through research by modern experts, it has been confirmed as the "Taihao Worship Terrace." Fuxi, also called Taihao, proclaimed himself to be of the Feng surname. In ancient times, the characters for "wind" (风) and "phoenix" (凤) were the same. Historical records state: "Ren, Su, Xuju, and ZhuanYu, all surnamed Feng, were actually in charge of the worship of Taihao by the Ji River." Rencheng was the foremost among the four ancient Feng-surname states, and there is no doubt that Fuxi, as the Green Emperor of the East, was born in Rencheng. Li Bai wrote in his "Record on the Wall of Rencheng County Office": "The ruins of the Green Emperor Taihao, the hometown of the White-Robed Minister." Therefore, research confirms that Rencheng is indeed the "hometown of the Holy Emperor Fuxi and the origin of the dragon and phoenix totems," hence the name of the Phoenix Terrace.

Since the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the Phoenix Terrace has thrived in trade and commerce. Especially during the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty, advocated by Liu Dongxing, the military commander of the Grand Canal, and with the collective effort of several local villages, the Guanyin Hall was built on the terrace. It was completed during the Wanli era. Every year on the 19th day of the second lunar month, Guanyin’s birthday, the "Phoenix Terrace" temple fair, leveraging the advantages of canal water transport, combined commerce and culture. Merchants from north and south gathered, goods were traded from east to west, creating an exceptionally lively scene. For a time, it became the foremost spring fair in southwestern Shandong, enjoying prosperity for hundreds of years. It became one of the famous "Eight Scenic Spots of Jining"—the "Sunset Glow at Phoenix Terrace." Xu Biao, a Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty (a native of Rencheng), praised it as the "Penglai of the Mortal World," meaning the earthly Penglai (a legendary island paradise).

Due to the passage of time, multiple parts of the terrace collapsed, and the buildings on it were completely destroyed. In recent years, various sectors in Rencheng District have invested funds to plan and construct the Phoenix Terrace and its surrounding scenic areas, aiming to restore the "Sunset Glow at Phoenix Terrace" landscape. The restored terrace presents a new yet ancient grandeur, appearing even more majestic and spectacular.

The architectural style of the Phoenix Terrace is uniquely ingenious and rarely seen in China. The overall design follows the Ming Dynasty construction methods, simple and dignified. The painted designs feature themes of dragons and phoenixes, reflecting a strong dragon-phoenix culture and symbolizing peace and prosperity in a flourishing age. The terrace faces south and is divided into three levels, standing 11.5 meters high, with a base area of 4,000 square meters and a top area of 1,600 square meters. It is constructed according to the principles of the Two Forces (Yin and Yang), Four Symbols, and Eight Trigrams, showing great attention to detail and aligning with the numbers representing the Three Powers, Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars, and Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends. The central north gate features a 15-meter-long imperial path carved with seven dragons and two phoenixes, currently the longest stone-carved imperial path in China. On both sides are 36-step staircases, symbolizing the "Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars and Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends." The top level is enclosed by protective walls at the four corners, forming an octagon, symbolizing the Eight Trigrams. On either side of the main gate stand square stone pillars, each weighing 7 tons, adorned with flying phoenixes and inscribed with poems about the terrace by Emperor Kangxi and other historical figures. Ascending the terrace, inside the mountain gate are statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, representing the protection of Buddhist teachings, the blessing of all beings, and national peace. The ritual instruments held by these kings also symbolize favorable wind, rain, and harmony. On both sides of the gate are the Bell Tower and Drum Tower. The concept of morning bells and evening drums originates here.

Passing through the mountain gate, the halls on the terrace feature exquisitely carved beams and painted rafters, shining with golden splendor. The main hall—the Yuantong Hall—has five bays and houses three Bodhisattva statues: in the center is Guanyin Bodhisattva, depicted as the Dharma Body Guanyin (Vipulaprabha), representing compassion; to the left is Manjushri Bodhisattva, riding a lion, representing wisdom; to the right is Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, riding a six-tusked white elephant, representing practice (or fulfillment). The hall's painted sculptures and murals depict rich content with lifelike figures, including the birth, growth, renunciation, enlightenment, and nirvana of Sakyamuni Buddha, reflecting the origins of Buddhism, as well as scenes of the Western Pure Land and numerous Buddhist flying apsaras and celestial musicians.

The eastern side hall enshrines the Child-Giving Guanyin, kind-faced and amiable, embodying the Bodhisattva’s compassionate spirit of saving all beings and spreading love across the human world. The murals in the east hall depict the Thirty-Two Manifestations of Guanyin, showcasing her diverse forms.

The western hall features a reclining Buddha made of camphor wood. The murals in the west hall illustrate the traditional “Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars,” reflecting the Confucian emphasis on filial piety and showcasing deep familial love and kindness in human society.

In the southeast corner of the terrace stands a Phoenix Pavilion, housing an exquisitely carved sandalwood phoenix (the original phoenix is housed in the National Museum of Chinese History), 1.62 meters tall, vividly crafted, and currently the largest sandalwood phoenix in China. This sandalwood is the rare green sandalwood. Beneath the phoenix is a carving of a hundred birds made of camphor wood, symbolizing "a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix."

In the southwest corner, there was originally a well, now replaced by a stone-carved Dragon Well, with water spraying from its mouth into a coin-shaped opening. On the back wall of the Phoenix Terrace stands a giant stone-carved sculpture of the "Ancient Phoenix Pine," majestic and imposing.

Looking at the entire Phoenix Terrace from afar, the stone staircase and gatehouse form the phoenix’s head, the water outlets on either side resemble its ears, the bell and drum towers represent its eyes, the main southern hall forms its spine, the side halls are its wings, and the purple-hued rear section represents its tail, creating the image of a resting phoenix with outstretched wings.

The Phoenix Terrace, this precious historical and cultural site, embodies three major cultural elements: "Ancestral Culture," "Canal Culture," and "Buddhist Culture." It is a culturally rich and unique humanistic historical landscape in China.