Stone Tablet Pavilions of Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong
The Stone Tablet Pavilions of Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong are a cultural tourism attraction.
On either side of the Grand Mercy Pavilion stand two tall and magnificent stone turtle-mounted steles. The one on the west is the Imperial Gift Stone Tablet Pavilion of Emperor Qianlong (Hongli), while the one on the east is the Imperial Gift Stone Tablet Pavilion of Emperor Kangxi (Xuanye). The pavilions feature yellow glazed tile roofs and double-eaved hip-and-gable roofs.
The Qianlong Pavilion houses a stele inscribed with a long poem personally composed by Emperor Hongli when he toured Mount Wutai and made an imperial visit to Longxing Temple in Zhengding in the 45th year of the Qianlong reign (1780 AD), during the lunar month of October (year of Bingyin). It includes the famous lines: “The dragon soars through its ancient haunt in search of hegemonic glory; the lion roars at the sacred site in reverence upon first arrival.”
The imperial stele text of Emperor Kangxi (Xuanye) was drafted by Zhou Yuanli, the then magistrate of Zhengding County. It was written by Emperor Kangxi himself during his tour to Mount Wutai, when he passed through Zhengding and stayed overnight at Longxing Temple.
The inscription records the historical facts of the reconstruction of Longxing Temple and serves not only as an important historical document for the study of the temple’s history but also offers a glimpse into the calligraphy style of the Kangxi Emperor.
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