The Nanzhang Phoenix Terrace Ruins

　　The Phoenix Terrace is located in the western suburbs of Jining, on the north bank of the Grand Canal and south of National Highway 327. The Nanzhang Town in Rencheng District where the Phoenix Terrace is situated has a long history and rich cultural resources. As early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the light of Chinese civilization could be seen here. According to archaeological surveys, within the over ten-meter-high earthen deposits of the Phoenix Terrace ruins, there are abundant ancient remains. The bottom layer consists of relics from the Longshan Culture, while the middle layer belongs to Shang and Zhou cultural sites. In 1985, the Phoenix Terrace ruins were designated as a key cultural relic protection site of Jining City. In 1986, a field archaeological excavation was carried out here by the training class for archaeological team leaders of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, unearthing nearly 300 artifacts, which are now preserved at the provincial archaeological institute. In 2006, it was announced as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit by the provincial government.

　　The "Phoenix Terrace," also known as the "Fenghua Terrace," was a platform for the education of the Feng clan and served as an ancient site where people worshipped Taihao Fuxi. Through research by modern experts, it has been confirmed as the "Taihao Worship Terrace." Fuxi, also called Taihao, proclaimed the Feng surname for himself. In ancient times, "feng" (风) and "feng" (凤, meaning phoenix) were the same character. Historical records state: "Ren, Su, Xuju, and Zhuan Yu all bore the Feng surname and were indeed in charge of the worship of Taihao by the Ji River." Rencheng was the foremost among the four ancient Feng-surnamed states, and it is unquestionable that Fuxi, as the Eastern Green Emperor, was born in Rencheng. Li Bai wrote in his "Record on the Wall of Rencheng County Office": "The remnants of the Green Emperor Taihao, the hometown of the white-robed Minister of Works," thus confirming that Rencheng is indeed the "birthplace of the Holy Emperor Fuxi, the origin of the dragon and phoenix totems." Hence, the terrace earned its name.

　　Since the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the Phoenix Terrace has thrived in trade and commerce. Especially during the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty, advocated by Liu Dongxing, the Grand Canal military commander, and with the support of several local villages, the Guanyin Hall was built atop the terrace. It was completed during the Wanli era. On the annual lunar birthday of Guanyin, the 19th day of the second month, the "Phoenix Terrace Temple Fair" leveraged the advantages of canal water transport, integrating commerce and culture. Merchants gathered from north and south, goods were traded from east to west, creating an exceptionally lively scene. For a time, it became the premier spring fair in southwestern Shandong, enjoying centuries of prosperity. It became one of the famous "Eight Scenic Spots of Jining"—the "Sunset Glow at Phoenix Terrace." Xu Biao, a grand secretary of the Ming Dynasty (a native of Rencheng), praised it as the "Penglai of the Mortal World," meaning the earthly paradise.

　　Due to the passage of time, parts of the terrace collapsed, and the structures on it were completely lost. In recent years, various sectors in Rencheng District have invested funds to plan and construct the Phoenix Terrace and its surrounding scenic areas, aiming to revive the "Sunset Glow at Phoenix Terrace" landscape. The restored terrace presents a new yet ancient grandeur, appearing even more majestic and spectacular.

　　The architectural style of the Phoenix Terrace is uniquely ingenious and rarely seen in China. The entire structure follows the Ming Dynasty construction methods, simple and dignified. The painted designs feature themes centered around dragons and phoenixes, reflecting a strong dragon-phoenix culture and symbolizing peace and prosperity in a flourishing age. The terrace faces south and is divided into three levels, standing 11.5 meters high, with a base area of 4,000 square meters and a top area of 1,600 square meters. It is meticulously designed according to the principles of the Two Forces, Four Symbols, and Eight Trigrams, subtly aligning with the numbers representing the Three Powers, Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars, and Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends. The central north-facing gate features a 15-meter-long imperial path carved with seven dragons and two phoenixes, currently the longest stone-carved imperial path in China. On either side are 36-step stairways, symbolizing the "Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars and Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends." The top level is enclosed by protective walls at the four corners, forming an octagon, symbolizing the Eight Trigrams. On both sides of the main gate stand square stone pillars, each weighing 7 tons, adorned with flying phoenixes and inscribed with poems and verses about the terrace by Emperor Kangxi and other historical figures. Ascending the terrace, inside the mountain gate are statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, representing the protection of Buddhism, the blessing of all beings, and national peace. The ritual implements held by these kings also symbolize favorable wind, rain, and prosperity. On either side of the gate are the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, embodying the concept of morning bells and evening drums.

　　Passing through the mountain gate, the halls on the terrace are adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, resplendent and magnificent. The main hall, the Yuantong Hall, has five bays and houses three Bodhisattva statues: in the center is Guanyin Bodhisattva, depicted as the Vairocana Guanyin, or Dharma Body Guanyin, representing compassion; on the left is Manjushri Bodhisattva, riding a lion, symbolizing wisdom; on the right is Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, riding a six-tusked white elephant, representing practice (or action). The hall’s painted sculptures and murals are rich in content, lifelike in form, and highly captivating, depicting scenes such as the birth, growth, renunciation, enlightenment, and nirvana of Sakyamuni Buddha, reflecting the origins of Buddhism. There are also scenes from the Western Pure Land and numerous Buddhist flying apsaras and musicians.

　　The east side hall enshrines the Child-Giving Guanyin, kind-faced and amiable, embodying the Bodhisattva’s great compassion, mercy, and salvation for all beings. The murals in the east hall depict the Thirty-Two Manifestations of Guanyin, showcasing her diverse forms.

　　The western hall houses a reclining Buddha made of camphor wood. The murals in the west hall depict the traditional "Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars," reflecting the Confucian emphasis on filial piety and showcasing the profound human familial love valued in ancient society.

　　At the southeast corner of the terrace stands a Phoenix Pavilion, housing an exquisitely carved sandalwood phoenix (the original phoenix is housed in the National Museum of Chinese History). Standing 1.62 meters tall, it is vividly crafted and is currently the largest sandalwood phoenix in China. This sandalwood is the rare green sandalwood. Beneath the phoenix is a camphor wood carving of a hundred birds, symbolizing "a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix."

　　At the southwest corner, there was originally a well, now replaced by a stone-carved Dragon Well, with water spraying from its mouth into a coin-shaped opening. On the back wall of the Phoenix Terrace stands a massive stone-carved "Ancient Phoenix Pine," exuding extraordinary grandeur.

　　Viewed from afar, the entire Phoenix Terrace resembles a resting, wing-spread phoenix: the stone stairway and gatehouse form the phoenix’s head, the water outlets on either side are its ears, the east and west bell and drum towers are its eyes, the main southern hall is its spine, the east and west halls are its wings, and the purple-tiled rear section represents its tail.

　　This precious historical and cultural site, the Phoenix Terrace, embodies three major cultural elements: "Ancestral Culture," "Canal Culture," and "Buddhist Culture." It is a culturally rich and unique humanistic historical landmark in China.