Song Xianggong’s Mother-Gazing Terrace

Song Xianggong’s Mother-Gazing Terrace

At the northeast corner of Sui County’s North Lake, there are two small islands: the one to the north is called Camel Ridge, and the one to the south is called Mother-Gazing Terrace. Both are relics left by Duke Xiang of Song and date back over 2,600 years. To understand the origins of these two sites, we must start with the Mother-Gazing Terrace.

The Mother-Gazing Terrace is traditionally said to have been built by Duke Xiang of Song, one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period, and is therefore also known as Xiang Terrace. According to the *Records of Sui Prefecture*: “Xiang Terrace is located in the northeast corner of the old city. It was built by Duke Xiang of Song, and some say it was constructed for gazing at his mother. This is the very place mentioned in the *Book of Songs* where the poem *The River Is Wide* was composed.” (See Volume 1, Page 12 of the *Records of Sui Prefecture*, Guangxu Reign, 18th Year of Qing Dynasty) The “Book of Songs” referred to here is the *Classic of Poetry*. In the *Wei Wind* section of the *Classic of Poetry*, there is a poem titled *The River Is Wide*. The ancient version of the *Classic of Poetry* includes a preface to *The River Is Wide*: “The mother of Duke Xiang of Song returned to the state of Wei, yearning endlessly, and thus composed this poem.” Duke Xiang of Song’s mother, who was the wife of Duke Huan of Song and the younger sister of Duke Wen of Wei, was sent back to Wei after giving birth to Duke Xiang (named Zifu) and subsequently abandoned. Longing for her son but unable to see him, she expressed her sorrow through poetry: *Who says the river is wide? A reed can ferry across.* *Who says Song is far away? I can see it if I stand tall.* *Who says the river is wide? It cannot block even a small boat.* *Who says Song is far away? I could be there and back by morning.* In modern terms: Who says the Yellow River is broad and vast? A single reed leaf can carry me across. Who says the state of Song lies far away? I can see it if I just stand on my toes. Who says the Yellow River is broad and vast? Its width cannot hold even a tiny skiff. Who says the state of Song lies far away? I could make the trip and return by daybreak.

Through its use of exaggeration and metaphor, this poem conveys the intense longing of Duke Xiang’s mother for her homeland of Song and her desire to return. Duke Xiang of Song, a filial son himself, deeply missed his mother. But how could they meet? If he brought his mother back to Song, people might criticize him for going against his late father’s wishes and being disloyal; if he didn’t bring her back, he would be failing in his filial duty to the woman who gave him life, and thus be considered unfilial. What could he do? After much deliberation, he came up with a solution that satisfied both loyalty and filial piety—he decided to build a towering terrace upon ascending the throne, hoping that from its height he could catch a glimpse of his mother. This act would demonstrate and promote filial devotion as a governing principle. The capital of Song was in Shangqiu—so why did Duke Xiang of Song build the Mother-Gazing Terrace in Sui County? There are three reasons:

First, Sui County is located on the western border of the State of Song, closest to the state of Wei. At that time, the capital of Wei was Chaoge (modern-day Qi County in Henan), situated north of the Yellow River. Sui County lies south of the Yellow River, and just a short journey northwest across the river leads into Wei territory. Second, during the Spring and Autumn Period, Sui County was known as Wuchao Township (see Volume 1, Page 12 of the *Records of Sui Prefecture*). Building the Mother-Gazing Terrace here carried the symbolic meaning of a crow feeding its parents in gratitude. Third, what is now the North Lake of Sui County was originally the site of the old city (or northern city), which used to be an elevated area. According to the *Records of Sui Prefecture*: “Twelve li northwest of the city lies Mount Heng (sharing its name with China’s sacred Northern Peak), standing tall and facing south, serving as the main mountain of the region. Extending from Mount Heng is the lofty and prominent Gold Lock Ridge. The northern city was built atop its peak, with government offices situated at its base. The southern city (i.e., the new city) features continuous ridges such as Phoenix Ridge and Saddle Ridge, serving as shelters for residents against flooding.” The Mother-Gazing Terrace is situated precisely within this undulating highland. After the city was built, the surrounding area, frequently affected by Yellow River floods, accumulated silt and rose in elevation over time, turning the former urban area into a depression. Later, when floods inundated the city, the North Lake was formed. The Mother-Gazing Terrace and Camel Ridge, being higher than other structures, eventually became islands in the lake.

Today, the Mother-Gazing Terrace covers only about 60 acres, and its highest point above the water is no more than five meters. However, when it was originally built, it was much larger and taller. As Duke Xiang of Song sought to set an example of filial and loyal devotion, he would frequently conduct grand ceremonies here to gaze toward his mother. Naturally, this place became his temporary palace, complete with halls for handling state affairs, living quarters, a royal kitchen, guards’ barracks, and maidservants’ lodgings. To the north of the terrace, an imperial garden was also constructed, with Camel Ridge serving as a hill within the garden. By this estimation, the vast architectural complex centered around the Mother-Gazing Terrace spanned no less than 500 acres. Its current height of less than five feet has eroded by approximately 0.1 inch per year due to wind and rain. Over 2,600 years, that amounts to 2.6 zhang (approximately 8.5 meters). If we consider the water level of North Lake as equivalent to ground level outside the lake, then roughly two zhang (6.5 meters) below the surface lies the soil stratum from the Song Dynasty when the city was first built. How much deeper the original surface of the Spring and Autumn Period lies beneath that is impossible to determine. From this, we can infer that the original height of the Mother-Gazing Terrace must have been no less than five zhang (16.5 meters). According to archaeologists, the terrace is indeed a rammed-earth platform dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period. The fact that Duke Xiang of Song built such a massive and lofty earthen structure in an era of limited technology just to gaze at his mother speaks volumes about his genuine reverence for filial piety. During the Battle of Hongshui, Duke Xiang was shot in the right thigh. He spent six months recuperating at the palace on the Mother-Gazing Terrace before passing away. In accordance with his will, he was buried on the terrace, never forgetting his filial duty to look toward his mother. The Xiang Mound on the terrace is the tomb of Duke Xiang of Song. Near the tomb site, pottery dou vessels (a type of ancient ritual vessel) about 30 centimeters tall have been unearthed, bearing square seal characters reading “Xiagong” (Lower Palace). “Xiagong” is contrasted with “Shanggong” (Upper Palace). The “Shanggong” refers to the palaces and pavilions above ground, while “Xiagong” denotes the subterranean chambers. These pottery vessels were funerary objects buried in the tomb. This serves as solid evidence that Duke Xiang of Song was indeed interred here.

Currently, the Mother-Gazing Terrace is under restoration. In the near future, this barren island will be transformed into a scenic tourist destination and an educational site promoting traditional virtues.