Kaifeng Iron Rhinoceros

Kaifeng Iron Rhinoceros

The Kaifeng Iron Rhinoceros is a cultural relic protected at the provincial level in Henan Province.

Iron Rhinoceros

Located in Hui Long Temple in Xin Village, about two kilometers outside the north gate of Kaifeng, the Iron Rhinoceros was cast in 1446 during the Ming Dynasty’s Zhengtong era by Yu Qian. Due to the frequent flooding of the Yellow River at the time, it was forged to suppress the waters. During the late Ming floods, the temple was destroyed and the Iron Rhinoceros was buried. It was not unearthed until the Shunzhi period of the Qing Dynasty. In 1691, the temple was rebuilt and named the Iron Rhinoceros River-Controlling Temple, and the statue was placed inside. The Iron Rhinoceros stands about 2 meters tall, with inscriptions on its back, signed “Dedicated by Yu Qian of Zhejiang in the fifth month of the cyclical year Bingyin, the eleventh year of Zhengtong.”

The Iron Rhinoceros, standing 2 meters tall with a girth of 2.5 meters, is entirely black with horns on its head and bright, piercing eyes. When Yu Qian originally placed it, it faced south toward the north, hoping to guard the city of Kaifeng. Its back bears the "Inscription on the River-Subduing Iron Rhinoceros" written by Yu Qian. The full text of the inscription reads: “Refined black iron, melted into fluid form. Transformed into a spiritual rhino, majestic and awe-inspiring. Strengthening the dikes, calming the waves forever, stable as Mount Tai, solid as bedrock. Water demons lurk no more, the River God vanishes. The city stands firm and intact, the people safe from drowning. Rains come on time, winds blow fair, men plow and women weave. The seasons progress in order, all deities fulfill their duties. Countless families rest easy, their lives peaceful. By Heaven’s grace, by the Emperor’s might. You, too, have your role, passed on endlessly. The fifth month of the cyclical year Bingyin, the eleventh year of Zhengtong. Dedicated by Yu Qian of Zhejiang.”

The Iron Rhinoceros could not hold back the rampaging Yellow River. When the river flooded, it was buried in soil. Later, during the Shunzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, people in Kaifeng unearthed it again. In 1691, during the Kangxi reign, the Henan Provincial Governor Yan Bangxing rebuilt the River-Controlling Iron Rhinoceros Temple on the site of the old Hui Long Temple. The Iron Rhinoceros was turned to face south toward the north, in hopes of controlling the Yellow River floods — yet it still proved ineffective. After another breach of the river, the Iron Rhinoceros was buried once more. During the war against Japan, when Japanese forces occupied Kaifeng, they attempted to loot the Iron Rhinoceros into the city to melt it down for ammunition, but local villagers fought to retrieve it. It was later placed in Iron Ox Village in Kaifeng. When Kaifeng began developing tourism, there were plans to move the Iron Rhinoceros to the Yellow River beach, but villagers opposed it. The Kaifeng Iron Rhinoceros was included in the first batch of cultural relics protected at the Henan provincial level. Today, replicas of the Iron Rhinoceros can be found on the Liuyuankou Dike in Kaifeng, the Huayuankou Yellow River Dike in Zhengzhou, in the Kaifeng Museum, and in the Yu Qian Memorial Temple in Hangzhou.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units