Confucius’ Rain Shelter

　　Confucius’ Rain Shelter is situated on the southern slope of Mount Fuzi, southwest of the main peak of Mangdang Mountain. It is a natural cliff featuring a semi-dome-shaped stone chamber below, which is 6.5 meters deep, 20 meters wide, and about 4 meters at its highest point. Legend has it that in the late Spring and Autumn period, Confucius traveled among the states to spread Confucian teachings, leading his disciples “from the State of Cao to the State of Song.” When they reached a mountain ridge west of the main peak of Mangdang Mountain, sudden heavy rain forced them to take shelter in a natural cave in the mountainside. After the rain cleared, Confucius had his disciples dry their books in the sun in front of the cave, and he gave a lecture under a large apricot tree on the hillside. For over two thousand years, this “Confucius’ Rain Shelter” has remained a sacred site of Confucius’ teachings and has been preserved to this day. Locals call the mountain “Mount Fuzi,” the cliff “Confucius Cliff,” and the village at the foot of the mountain “Confucius Cliff Village.” During the Tang Dynasty, locals carved a stone statue of Confucius taking shelter from the rain. The statue depicts him sitting cross-legged with hands clasped in a bowing posture, facing south, though his face has now been damaged. There are many stone inscriptions outside the cave, but today only two fragmentary stelae from the Ming Dynasty remain on the eastern side of the stone chamber, their inscriptions blurred. These were erected during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. In front of Confucius Cliff is a “Book-Drying Platform.” Legend says that after Confucius and his disciples took shelter here and the rain cleared, they dried their books on this platform—hence its name. Locals say dew never forms on this platform at night, making it suitable for drying grain overnight. Confucius Cliff is also one of Yongcheng’s ancient Eight Scenic Spots, known as “Dripping Emerald Cliff.”