Stone Mortar

Stone Mortar

Stone Mortar is located in the eastern part of Rizhao City and serves as a strategic coastal stronghold of the city. It borders the Yellow Sea to the southeast, with Kuishan Mountain—known for its three peaks standing like a brush rack—to the southwest, and Sishan Mountain, named for its silk-like waterfalls after rain, to the north. The two mountains face each other across the sea, resembling a formation of flags and drums.

According to local legend, the establishment of Stone Mortar began before the Northern Song Dynasty and has a history of more than a thousand years. In the second year of Yuanyou during the Song Dynasty (1087 AD), the Rizhao Town was established in Juxian County. At that time, Stone Mortar was under the jurisdiction of Rizhao Town. In the third year of Yuanyou, it was incorporated into Jiaoxi County (present-day Jiaozhou) under the administration of Mizhou. In the 24th year of Dading during the Jin Dynasty in the Southern Song period (1184 AD), Rizhao Town was upgraded to Rizhao County. Stone Mortar became one of the three and a half towns under Rizhao County. The "Rizhao County Annals · Historical Sites" from the Guangxu era recorded: "The Comprehensive Gazetteer of the Ming Dynasty states that Rizhao had four newly administered towns, namely Shijiu, Taoluo, Shagou, and half of Liangxiang."

Regarding the origin of the name "Stone Mortar," there are several accounts. One says it was named for the numerous “dùjiù” (mortar-shaped) holes found on the large exposed granite rocks behind the original village. Another claims it originated from the Song Dynasty when Li Bao, who defeated Jin troops, used stone mortars to pound rice there. It is also said that the area was named after the coastal cape or peninsula that juts out to the southeast, hence also called Shijiu Island. From the early Ming Dynasty, when the "Beiyu Qianhusuo" (a military outpost) was established, it became known as Shijiu Suo, also referred to as Shijiu Suo Kou, or simply “Suo Kou,” and sometimes just “Suo.” In the 17th year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1384 AD), the Andong Wei was established to defend against Japanese pirates, comprising five sub-posts: front, back, left, right, and center. Shijiu served as the rear post and was an important military garrison area in the northern part of Andong Wei. It once had various military positions such as Qianhu, Fu Qianhu, and Baihu, with over a thousand cavalry and infantry troops, as well as a stone fortress. The "Rizhao County Annals · Construction" from the Guangxu era recorded: “The Shijiu Suo city wall is roughly three li in circumference, 14 chi high, with three gates to the north, south, and west... In the sixth year of Tongzhi (1867 AD), it was repaired again to guard against bandits. In the 11th year of Guangxu (1885 AD), it was renovated once more.” Outside the city, along the coast to the north and south, there were fifteen watchtowers and alarm platforms, each manned by cavalry and infantry. According to place-name surveys, the Shijiu Suo city actually had four gates, each with its own plaque: the north gate was inscribed with “Diān Pán” (Founding Base), the south gate “Ān Lán” (Calming Waves), the east gate “Wàng Yíng” (Gazing at Yingzhou), and the west gate “Zhān Kuí” (Looking at Kuishan).

Stone Mortar has been a military stronghold since ancient times. In the 31st year of Shaoxing during the Southern Song Dynasty (1161 AD), in the winter month of October, the Jin army besieged Haizhou. Li Bao, the governor of Zhexi, led naval forces by sea and anchored his fleet with troops at Stone Mortar. The Jin forces docked and camped at Chenjia Island, with only one mountain (present-day Sishan Mountain in our city) separating the two armies. At the time, the strong northern wind was unfavorable for the Song forces. Li Bao prayed at the “Dragon God Temple” in Stone Mortar, and the dragon deity responded by shifting the wind direction. Seizing the opportunity, Li Bao launched a fierce attack, set hundreds of Jin ships on fire, and captured or killed five high-ranking Jin generals, including the cavalry commander of Yidu Prefecture, Wanyan Zhengjianu, completely annihilating the Jin Dynasty’s only naval force. Upon hearing the victory, the Southern Song court summoned Li Bao to the capital and awarded him a banner inscribed with the words “Zhōng Yǒng Lǐ Bǎo” (Loyal and Brave Li Bao), promoting him to the position of Jinghai Jun Jiedushi (Military Governor of Jinghai) and Coastal Pacification Commissioner.

Because of the “divine response of the Dragon King” during Li Bao’s prayers, the court granted the Stone Mortar Dragon King the title of “Yòu Shùn Hóu” (Marquis Who Assists Obedience) and bestowed a plaque inscribed “Wēi Jì Miào” (Temple of Mighty Relief). Inside the Dragon God Temple, two dragons coil around the beams, vivid and majestic, while the courtyard features intriguing couplets carved with the characters “Cháng” (Long) and “Cháo” (Tide): “Cháng cháng cháng cháng cháng cháng cháng” (Long, long, long, long, long, long, long) and “Cháo cháo cháo cháo cháo cháo cháo” (Tide, tide, tide, tide, tide, tide, tide). The “Dragon God” has faced the sea for ages. Stone Mortar is not only a historic military hub but also a place rich in scenic and historical sites. On the southwestern coast, it is said to be where the Eight Immortals—including Zhang Guolao, Lü Dongbin, and He Xiangu—crossed the sea. The coastal rocks bear imprints from ancient visitors who rested there, hence the name “Eight Immortals Rocks.” At the southeastern cape, there is a famous giant natural “self-moving stone,” locally called “Guǐ Dòng Shí” (Ghost-Moving Stone). This rock moves with the tides, and when two stones constantly collide, throwing a small stone between them will instantly shatter it. In the 8th year of the Guangxu era (1882 AD), Ding Shoucun, the grain intendant and judicial commissioner of Hubei and a native of Taoluo in Rizhao, inscribed the words “Tiān Jī Gǔ Dàng” (Heavenly Mechanism Vibrates) in honor of this phenomenon. Also, 15 meters southeast of the Dragon God Temple, there are two “Hǎi Shàng Bēi” (Sea Tablets) inscribed by Shen An, a native of Rizhao and former Tongzhi official of Zhending Prefecture in the Ming Dynasty: one reads “Tiān Fēng Hǎi Tāo” (Heavenly Wind and Sea Waves), the other “Wàn Pài Cháo Zōng” (Tides from All Directions). About 4 kilometers southwest of Stone Mortar, in Donghaiyu, lies an early Neolithic site from the Longshan Culture, confirmed by archaeologists to date back four thousand years. The exquisite eggshell cups with high stems and hollow carvings unearthed here are globally treasured artifacts. The excavated tombs and cultural strata here consist of three interconnected phases, providing invaluable insights into the late stages of China’s primitive society.

Not far north of Stone Mortar lies the “Dōng Lǚ Xiāng” (Eastern Lǚ Township), recorded in various historical texts as the hiding place where Jiang Taigong (Jiang Shang), the founding ancestor of the Qi State during the Zhou Dynasty, secluded himself to avoid tyranny under King Zhou. At Wanpingkou, there is a fishing site associated with him, called “Jí Jīn” (Thorn Ford, a river name). About 3.5 kilometers north of Stone Mortar lies Míng Wàng Tái, the site of the “Mín Wáng Tái” (King Min’s Terrace) from over two thousand years ago during the Warring States Period. King Min was the ruler of the Qi State, one of the Seven Warring States, thus referred to as Qi Mín Wáng.

Today, Stone Mortar has become home to top-tier coal, wood chip, and general cargo terminals in China, alongside the Xin-Yan-Shi Railway and expressways leading directly to the docks.