Han Wengong Fishing Terrace

Han Wengong Fishing Terrace

During the Zhenyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, Han Yu served as the magistrate of Yangshan. In his spare time from official duties, he often composed poetry and fished by the river with his students Qu Ce and Qu Hong, near Sanmen Shoal to the east of the county. Han Yu’s essay “Preface to Sending Off Qu Ce,” written while he was in Yangshan, provides a detailed account of these activities. After Han Yu left office, starting from the Northern Song Dynasty, the legacy of Han Wengong (Han Yu) became widely celebrated at the historical sites in Yangshan. Lin Gai, the prefect of Lianzhou, visited out of admiration, and erected plaques commemorating Han Wengong’s reading and fishing terraces. Later, during the Ming Dynasty, a local magistrate built a pavilion on this site in memory of Han Yu, who frequently sat on the rocks with friends to fish. The rocks were also inscribed with characters. The pavilion has four pillars and four corners, topped with golden glazed tiles, and is not particularly remarkable in appearance. However, it was constructed atop a stone platform approximately 2.5 meters high, 4.5 meters long, and 1 meter wide, instantly giving it an imposing presence and distinctive character. During the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty, the Hanwen Shrine was built behind the pavilion, and the Hanshan Academy was established along the bank of Taxi Creek to the left of the pavilion.

Among the historical and scenic sites of Yangshan throughout the dynasties, Han Wengong Fishing Terrace is always included, commonly known as “Fishing Rock in the Breeze.” It has a dedicated entry in the national compendium of famous tourist attractions. Han Wengong Fishing Terrace is one of the Yangshan sites listed in the nationally compiled compendium.