Boji Bridge

Boji Bridge

Boji Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

Boji Bridge is located at the southeast corner of the central square in Yanggu County and is now a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit.

Built in the 34th year of the Wanli era during the Ming Dynasty (1606 AD), Boji Bridge was once a vital passage leading north to Dongchang, south to Shouzhang, and east to Zhangqiu. It is also called the "Stone Ox Pulling Stone Cart Bridge" because the second stone railing slab from the west on the southern side features a carving of an ox-drawn cart. According to the Yanggu County Annals: “The county had an assistant magistrate named Da, who served with integrity. When he first took office, he arrived with only a female ox pulling his cart. Upon leaving his post, the female ox gave birth to a calf. The magistrate instructed his servant to leave the calf in the county while he continued his journey with the female ox. Later generations, in admiration of his virtue, carved his image on Boji Bridge, where it remains to this day.” This stone carving is referred to as the “Stone Ox’s Lasting Virtue.”

The stone bridge structure consists of the bridge foundation and the bridge body, featuring two rows of carved stone railings above and three arched stone bridge openings below. The bridge stretches 10.18 meters from east to west, 5.06 meters from north to south, and stands 3.70 meters tall. Entirely built of stone, it showcases fine craftsmanship, elegant design, a simple yet classic style, and a sturdy, meticulous structure. A stone stele was unearthed beneath the bridge, inscribed with the words “Boji Bridge.” The top of the stele reads “Constructed by the charitable longevity official Dong Xianzhang,” while the bottom is dated “the 34th year of the Wanli era in the Ming Dynasty, the year of Bingwu.”

Boji Bridge has 12 stone pillars, each topped with intricately carved lions in various poses. Between the pillars are 10 pairs of stone railing slabs, totaling 10 slabs, each fitted with a stone handrail strip on the top and another corresponding one below, making 20 in all. These strips are all engraved with bas-relief patterns, which are quite remarkable.

The bas-reliefs on the stone railing slabs depict various mythological stories, including the “Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea,” “The God of Longevity Playing Chess,” “A Heavenly Horse Galloping Across the Sky,” “Chai Wang Pushing a Cart Across the Bridge,” “An Ox-Drawn Cart in Motion,” “Deer and Crane,” “Bat and Longevity Character,” and “An Iron Pestle Ground into a Needle.” The pillars are also carved with images of bamboo, plum blossoms, birds, beasts, landscapes, and figures. The carvings on the bridge are bold and powerful, rustic and simple in style. The relief images feature prominent themes, vivid storytelling, and exquisitely lifelike human figures.

The entire stone construction of Boji Bridge is finely crafted, with ingenious techniques, an elegant design, and a classic simplicity. All components are joined together with mortise and tenon joints that fit tightly, forming a rigorous and unified whole. Beneath the bridge are three archways; the southern top of the arches features a carved dragon head, while the northern side depicts a dragon tail, winding and curling, vividly alive. Four stone tigers are carved around the bridge, lying low with claws tucked, exuding a majestic aura.

Boji Bridge is a relatively rare and well-preserved Ming Dynasty bridge in western Shandong, boasting significant cultural and artistic value.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units