Jasmine Pavilion

Jasmine Pavilion

Located 4 kilometers northwest of Lincheng Town, within the current site of Lingao Normal School. The Jasmine Pavilion was originally an academy built by Xie Wo, the magistrate of Lingao County during the Song Dynasty. Xie Wo planted many jasmine flowers in the courtyard, hence the name "Jasmine Pavilion."

Introduction

Located 4 kilometers northwest of Lincheng Town, within the current site of Lingao Normal School. The Jasmine Pavilion was originally an academy built by Xie Wo, the magistrate of Lingao County during the Song Dynasty. Xie Wo planted many jasmine flowers in the courtyard, hence the name "Jasmine Pavilion." In the Song Dynasty’s Shaoxing era

Jasmine Pavilion

In the 18th year of the Shaoxing era (1146 AD), Prime Minister Hu Quan was exiled to Hainan. When he passed through Lingao, Xie Wo welcomed him to stay at the Jasmine Pavilion for a while. Hu Quan wrote a poem titled "Inscription on the Jasmine Pavilion" here, which helped the pavilion gain increasing fame. According to the Lingao County Annals, a man named Dai Dingshi from Bodun Village in Lingao County received guidance from Hu Quan, which inspired him to study diligently. He later passed the imperial examination to become a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) and held a position in the Ministry of Personnel. Over the years, the Jasmine Pavilion has been regarded as a hub for the dissemination of Central Plains culture in Lingao.

Origin of the Name

The Jasmine Pavilion was originally an academy built by Xie Wo, the magistrate of Lingao County during the Song Dynasty. Xie Wo planted many jasmine flowers in the courtyard. As he was a Buddhist believer, he chose the name "Jasmine" both as an homage to Buddhism and to reflect local customs, hence the name "Jasmine Pavilion."

History

In the 18th year of the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1148 AD), the loyal official Hu Quan was exiled to Jiyang Army (now Yazhou Town in Sanya City) under supervision. He traveled by boat from the Leizhou Peninsula, landed at Tongchao Post Station in Chengmai County (now Old Town), and passed through the western route of the island via Lingao. Xie Wo welcomed him to stay at the Jasmine Pavilion for a time, and invited Hu Quan to inscribe plaques, write dedications, and deliver lectures on the moral principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals. Hu Quan composed a poem here: “My eyes brighten at the sight of the Tianya Post, my feet weary at the edge of the earth” ("Inscription on the Jasmine Pavilion"). Since then, the Jasmine Pavilion has grown increasingly renowned. According to the Lingao County Annals, a man named Dai Dingshi from Bodun Village in Lingao County received guidance from Hu Quan, which inspired him to study diligently. He later passed the imperial examination to become a Juren and held a position in the Ministry of Personnel. Over the years, the Jasmine Pavilion has been regarded as a hub for the dissemination of Central Plains culture in Lingao. It is now the site of Lingao Normal School.

Transportation

Transportation route: Take an intercity bus from Haikou to Lingao, then transfer to a local motorcycle taxi to reach the attraction.