The Han Dynasty Stone Watchtower in Zhengyang

The Han Dynasty Stone Watchtower in Zhengyang

The Han Dynasty stone watchtower in Zhengyang is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Han Dynasty Stone Watchtower

The Han Dynasty stone watchtower in Zhengyang County is located outside the east gate of the county town, on the north side of the highway, and is locally referred to as the "Statue Viewing Platform." The 25th Year of the Republic of China Revised Gazetteer of Zhengyang County records: "The Statue Viewing Platform is situated in front of the Dongyue Temple outside the east gate of the county town. It features a stone wall two chi thick and six chi long from east to west. The eastern section consists of eight layers of stones about seven chi high, while the western section has eleven layers of stones about one zhang high, with stone slabs on top carved in the style of tiled roofs, featuring outward eaves on all four sides. The two sides are neatly cut, resembling one side of a doorway, seemingly the left part of an ancient stone watchtower..." The cultural authorities of Zhengyang County, considering the ancient architectural form of this "platform" and the many ancient legends associated with it among the local populace, listed it as a county-level cultural relics protection unit for preservation. In May 1961, during a province-wide cultural relics survey and registration, the Cultural Relics Work Team of the Henan Provincial Cultural Bureau conducted research on this "Statue Viewing Platform" and discovered that it was actually a Han Dynasty stone watchtower.

The stone watchtower is approximately 15 meters away from the highway, with the ruins of the Dongyue Temple to its north. According to the county gazetteer, in the fourth year of the Zhiyuan era during the Yuan Dynasty, local residents Chen Fucheng and others built the Dongyue Temple on the ruins north of the watchtower. In the 35th year of the Qianlong era, local resident Li Chengren and others renovated the temple again. Today, only ruins remain, covered with rubble, and many Han Dynasty artifacts were also discovered during the survey, proving that a structure existed here before the Dongyue Temple was built. Only the eastern section of the stone watchtower remains, while the western section has been destroyed. To locate traces of the western section, detailed drilling was conducted in the vicinity, but no significant findings emerged. However, in Zhengyang County, we heard a local legend: "Long ago, the Statue Viewing Platform developed a large crack wide enough for a person to pass through. One year, when a plague was rampant and many people died, someone set out to exorcise evil spirits. Then, one night, the crack miraculously closed up and the two sides rejoined." It is quite possible that the western section was dismantled due to superstitions and efforts to expel demons.

The stone watchtower was constructed using blue stone slabs and includes a smaller subsidiary tower (zi que). The main body of the watchtower stands 4.75 meters tall, with the main and subsidiary towers together spanning 2.10 meters in width. The thickness of the watchtower is 0.75 meters, and the entire structure leans slightly northward. The base of the watchtower consists of three stepped layers: the bottom layer is 3.7 meters long and 2.25 meters wide, the middle layer is 3.25 meters long and 1.75 meters wide, and the upper layer is 2.6 meters long and 1.2 meters wide, with a base height of 0.67 meters. The main tower is built with eleven layers of stones, standing 3.75 meters tall, while the subsidiary tower is built with eight layers, standing 2.6 meters tall. The roof features a single eave extending in four directions: the main tower’s eave is 2.25 meters long, 1.75 meters wide, and 0.37 meters high, while the subsidiary tower’s eave is 1.12 meters long, 1.75 meters wide, and 0.37 meters high, all adorned with carved tile ridges and roof crests.

Due to the relatively coarse quality of the stone and years of weathering, the surface of the watchtower has suffered considerable erosion, with most decorative patterns now blurred. Only partial traces can still be faintly discerned, such as figures, oxen, dragons, door knockers, diagonal lines, and circular patterns on the southern and eastern sides of the watchtower. These patterns are largely similar to the geometric designs commonly found on the sides of Eastern Han Dynasty bricks in Henan, as well as the images on the stone reliefs of Nanyang. Unfortunately, no inscriptions have been discovered. The architectural style, construction method, and size of this watchtower are very similar to the Songshan Three Watchtowers preserved in Dengfeng today, suggesting that it was also likely built during the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units