Sacred Land of Zhu Xi Culture

Sacred Land of Zhu Xi Culture

Zhuzi Village is located on the east side of Jinghuang Road within Wangjiazhuang Subdistrict, with a population of 3,146. Historically known as the "Pearl Village of Anqiu," it is a renowned historical and cultural village in the Xiashan Ecological Economic Development Zone.

The village boasts a long history. Initially established west of Falin Temple, it was moved to the east of the temple during the Ming Dynasty. In the 1950s, following the construction of the Xiashan Reservoir, it was relocated again to the west of the original site. During the Han Dynasty, a villager named Qiu Chang was famed for his filial piety, earning the village the name "Xiaoxing Township" (Filial Piety Township). In 1197 (the third year of the Qingyuan era during the Song Dynasty), the eminent scholar Zhu Xi sought refuge here to avoid wrongful imprisonment, leading to the village being renamed "Zhucang Village." Later, during the Qing Dynasty, a temple dedicated to Zhu Xi, known as the Zhuzi Temple, was built to commemorate him, and the village was subsequently renamed "Zhuzi." Before the construction of the Xiashan Reservoir, the Zhuzi Temple and an ancient locust tree nearby still stood. The locust tree had an unmeasurable trunk diameter, with three hollows at its base and nine cavities of varying sizes encircling its upper trunk, earning it the nickname "Three Gates and Nine Windows." The tree's lush foliage and the cool shade beneath it complemented the Zhuzi Temple perfectly, attracting numerous visitors.

Zhuzi Village is home to numerous relics of literati and notable figures. Legend has it that during the Warring States period, the military strategist Huang Shigong, after passing on his military treatise to Zhang Liang, wandered here and took refuge in the mountains behind the village, where he was buried, giving the mountain the name "Huanggong Mountain" (also known as Huanggongpu). In ancient times, a temple dedicated to Huanggong was built in front of his tomb. Han Gai Gong of Jiaoxi Kingdom, a mentor to the Qi Prime Minister Cao Can, retired to the mountains in front of Zhuzi Village in his later years and was buried at the mountain's peak after his death. The villagers built a temple in his honor and renamed the mountain "Gaigong Mountain." When Su Shi served as the governor of Mizhou, he visited the site of Gaigong's legacy, found the temple in ruins, funded its reconstruction, and personally inscribed "Gaigong Hall." Historical scholars and notable figures from Zhuzi Village include Ming Yuanji, a judicial officer of the Dali Temple during the Northern Song Dynasty; Ming Hao, a participant in political affairs; and Wang Lin, an imperial censor of the Ming Dynasty. Behind Zhuzi Village lies the tomb of Ming Hao. The three tombs—Huanggong, Gaigong, and Ming Hao—are arranged in a triangular formation, historically referred to as the "Three Tombs Standing Like Tripods."

In ancient times, Zhuzi Village was a Buddhist sacred site where pagodas and temples coexisted. The construction date of the Sanbao Pagoda remains unknown. However, according to the inscription on the Sanbao Pagoda restoration stele, the pagoda was destroyed during the Buddhist persecution campaign led by Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty in 574 (the third year of the Jianyue era) and was later rebuilt in 588 (the eighth year of the Kaihuang era during the Sui Dynasty). The construction date of Falin Temple is also debated. The Ming Dynasty's "Anqiu County Annals" record it as being built in 1212 (the first year of the Chongqing era during the Jin Dynasty), while the Qing Dynasty's "Anqiu Local Annals" state it was constructed in 1507 (the second year of the Zhengde era during the Ming Dynasty). In front of Falin Temple stands a stone turtle, measuring 28 meters in length, 144 meters in width, and 0.94 meters in height—the largest of its kind in China. Due to years of weathering, the turtle has developed multiple cracks. To preserve this historic artifact, it was relocated to higher ground on June 29, 2003, and sheltered by a pavilion.

Wangjiazhuang Subdistrict: Located on the western shore of the Xiashan Reservoir, the largest reservoir in Shandong Province, Wangjiazhuang Subdistrict spans 90,000 mu of arable land. In 2011, the subdistrict achieved a total fiscal revenue of 18.703 million yuan, with per capita rural income reaching 6,549 yuan. It has been recognized as a Beautiful Town in Shandong Province, a Model Small Town Construction Town in Weifang, a Civilized Town in Weifang, a Greening Demonstration Town in Weifang, one of Weifang's Top Ten Charming Towns, a Featured Industry Town in Weifang, and a Top Ten Featured Agricultural Town in Weifang.

On December 2, 2017, Wangjiazhuang Subdistrict of the Xiashan Ecological Economic Development Zone in Weifang, Shandong Province, was honored as "China's Most Beautiful Village..." More details about Wangjiazhuang Subdistrict ++