Hanzhong Museum (Guhantai)

　　Guhantai is situated in the city center of Hanzhong. It was constructed during the Chu-Han Contention period, covering an area of about 8,000 square meters. The site consists of three terraces, with the platform being 8 meters high. In 206 BC, after a wave of peasant uprisings overthrew the Qin Dynasty, Xiang Yu, believing himself to be the most meritorious, tore up the agreement made between the various rebel forces and King Huai of Chu that “whoever captures Xianyang first shall be king.” He instead appointed Liu Bang, who had taken Xianyang first, as the King of Han. Enduring the humiliation, Liu Bang led his army into Hanzhong via the Ziwu Trail and built a high earthen palace in the style of the Qin—what is known today as Guhantai. He also followed Zhang Liang’s strategy to set fire to all the plank roads leading from the Guanzhong region into Hanzhong, signaling that he was fully content being the King of Han and would not march north to contend with Xiang Yu for the empire, thereby deceiving Xiang Yu and easing his guard. With Guhantai serving as his palace and Hanzhong as his base, Liu Bang trained his troops, recruited talent widely, and unexpectedly promoted Han Xin—who had once suffered humiliation under someone’s crotch—to the rank of Grand General. He then employed Han Xin’s strategy of “repairing the plank roads openly while secretly advancing through Chen Cang,” catching Xiang Yu off guard and achieving a surprise victory by capturing the Three Qins.

　　Liu Bang rose to power and established his dominance while stationed in Hanzhong. As a result, he named his dynasty “Han.” The terrace where he stayed came to be revered by later generations as Guhantai. Zhang Shaoyu of the Song Dynasty wrote the line, “Leaving this lump of earth, it remains the foundation of the Han,” in which “this lump of earth” refers to the remaining terrace. Chen Yucui of the Qing Dynasty composed a poem that says, “The Red Emperor’s dragon rise is now a tale, yet the layered terrace stands firm and new. The ancient palace has vanished without a trace, but in this district, there are still benevolent men.”

　　Since the Han Dynasty, Guhantai has served as a site for worship and recreation by the Hanzhong government office, undergoing renovations in various dynasties. The Wangjianglou (River-Watching Tower), which now stands at the northern end of Guhantai, was first built in the Southern Song Dynasty. Wang Xiangzhi of the Song Dynasty recorded in his “Yudi Jisheng” that there was a “Tianhan Tower” in the northeast corner of the government office, which was the original name of Wangjianglou. As time passed and the scenery changed, through several rises and declines, today’s Wangjianglou gives a sense of solemnity and grandeur. With its unique design and majestic presence, it has long become a symbolic ancient building of Hanzhong’s old city. Climbing the tower offers a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and clouds, like an unfolding painting; looking down at the city, one sees towers and pavilions densely packed; glancing around the courtyard, ancient trees and slender bamboos are interspersed with flowers and plants. Ascending this tower refreshes the spirit, evokes nostalgia, and stirs deep emotions.

　　Directly south of Wangjianglou, there used to be the Guiyintang (Osmanthus Shade Hall), and now there are several ancient osmanthus trees. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, their fragrance wafts everywhere, making it a place in Hanzhong to seek the scent of osmanthus. Further south are the Jingwu Pool and Xixin Pavilion, built during the Ming Dynasty. To the east of the tower is a stone horse with a simple and classic style, a surviving relic associated with the historical discussions about Wei Yan, a general of the Shu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period. Inside the pavilion is an exquisitely crafted bronze bell, a remnant of the Ruiwang Mansion of Hanzhong from the Ming Dynasty. Gazing at the bronze bell, one can almost hear the resonant morning and evening bells from the Huguo Chanlin (State-Protecting Buddhist Forest). One of the Eight Scenic Spots of Hanzhong, known as “Moon Terrace’s Azure Jade,” is an artifact from the Chu-Han period and is the earliest existing stone carving on Guhantai. It is also referred to variously as “Liu Bang’s Mounting Stone,” “Sword-Testing Stone,” “Stone Drum,” or “Palace Column Base.”

　　Today, Guhantai is home to the Hanzhong Museum. The site is covered with lush ancient trees, scattered bamboo, pavilions and terraces in the distance, along with thriving lotus leaves in the green ponds, giving it the feel of a water town in southern China. The highlight of the museum is the exhibition room of the “Thirteen Stone Gate Relics of the Han and Wei Dynasties.” These belong to the renowned cliff inscriptions from the Han and Wei periods, hailed as “national treasures” and a “treasury of calligraphy.” The inscriptions on these cliff stones are of great significance for studying the development of transportation, water conservancy, science and technology, and calligraphy art in China, especially the evolution of Han clerical script. They fill gaps in historical records and correct errors in historical texts, making them an important stone-carved documentary heritage. They are classified as national first-class cultural relics. Among them, the Eastern Han Dynasty carvings “? Jun Opens the Baoxie Path” and the “Shimen Song” cliff inscriptions are rated as Grade A among the first-class relics, further highlighting the value of the “Thirteen Stone Gate Relics of the Han and Wei Dynasties.”