Hall of the Sea Toad Palace

Hall of the Sea Toad Palace

The Hall of the Sea Toad Palace is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

The Sea Toad Palace is located in Mafang Village, Wuliyuan Township, about five li northeast of Xiuwu County. Originally named "Zhenqing Guan" (True Clarity Temple), it is said that during the Five Dynasties period, Liu Haichan, the prime minister of the Yan Kingdom's prince, became disillusioned with worldly life, resigned from office, and devoted himself to Taoism. The Mafang Spring in Mafang Village was his alchemical elixir-washing pool. It earned its name from an inscription titled "Sea Toad Palace’s Song of the Taoist Path," written by the Jin Dynasty’s Qiu Chuji.

The existing main hall faces south while its back is to the north, and locals also call it the "Back-to-the-South Palace." It was rebuilt in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Its unique architectural style makes it a valuable resource for the study of ancient buildings. To the north of the palace once lay Mafang Spring, which teemed with stone-shell insects. Ducks that ate these insects produced eggs that, when processed into preserved eggs, revealed clear patterns resembling pine and cypress branches and bamboo leaves after the shells were removed. These eggs, known for their exceptionally delicious taste, are called "Sea Toad Palace Preserved Eggs." Since the late Yuan Dynasty, they have been regarded as a delicacy fit for imperial banquets by successive royal courts.

Mafang Village: Mafang Village…… More details about Mafang Village++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Henan Province