Beidou Terrace

Beidou Terrace

North of the Confucius Temple on Mount Tai stands Beidou Terrace, built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. The terrace features doors on all four sides with a central passage, and another terrace built atop it. On this upper terrace are two stone pillars topped with column capitals, known as “Lidou,” commonly called the “Auxiliary Stars,” symbolizing the idea of “Mount Tai and the North Star.”

The terrace was destroyed during the Republican era and rebuilt in 1984. The terrace top is fitted with granite railings made of Mount Tai stone, carved with patterns such as the Cowherd, the Weaver Girl, a swan, and the Big Dipper; at the center of the terrace is a circular stone sundial marked with the twelve traditional Chinese time divisions. To the west of the temple lies a lofty ridge, said to be frequently climbed by Lü Dongbin, hence named “Ascension Terrace.” It is believed that this terrace was an ancient site for astronomical observation, indicating the advanced state of astronomical science in ancient China.

To the southeast of the Confucius Temple lies Douxian Rock, where three large characters “Zhen Yi Gang” (Shake Off Your Clothes Ridge) were inscribed by people from the Ming Dynasty. These characters serve as a reminder to devout worshippers entering the sacred realm to tidy their attire as a sign of reverence for the deities. This area contains many inscriptions and signatures from the Song and Yuan dynasties. To the north of Zhen Shan Gang lies Luban Cave, which houses a delicate shrine dedicated to Lu Ban.

To the west of the Bixia Temple lies the “Fairy Spring.” This spring was “awakened” after experts conducted on-site surveys and evaluations, and park staff carried out cleaning and excavation within the area identified by the experts.

The Fairy Spring has a diameter of 53 centimeters and a height of 36 centimeters. The edge of the well bears artificially carved marks of characters or patterns, though they have become unclear due to weathering. According to *Tales and Anecdotes*, the Fairy Spring is the incarnation of the youngest daughter of Bixia Yuanjun, who was most beloved by the goddess. To alleviate a severe drought near Mount Tai and nourish all things to save sentient beings, the goddess’s daughter transformed into a spring and was named the “Fairy Spring.”

Bixia Yuanjun is a mountain deity belief (Taoist) centered in North China, referred to as the “Heavenly Immortal Jade Maiden of Mount Tai, Bixia Yuanjun,” and is a goddess in Han Chinese mythology.

Her sacred site is located on Mount Tai, the foremost of China’s Five Great Mountains, situated in Tai’an City, Shandong Province. The influence of Bixia Yuanjun has spread from Tai’an in Shandong Province and, over the course of a thousand years—especially since the Ming and Qing dynasties—has had a profound impact on Han Chinese culture in northern China.