Temple and Mausoleum of Emperor Taihao Fuxi
Temple and Mausoleum of Emperor Taihao Fuxi
The Mausoleum-Temple of Emperor Taihao Fuxi is a grand mausoleum complex built in memory of Taihao Fuxi, the primal leader of the Three Sovereigns. It stands on the northern shore of Longhu Lake in Huaiyang County and ranks among China’s first batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.
Records in Huaiyang County Chronicle document that a burial mound dedicated to Fuxi existed here as early as the Spring and Autumn Period, with a shrine erected before the Han Dynasty. Family Sayings of Confucius records: "Confucius traveled from the State of Wei to the State of Chen, where Duke Chen opened the Lingyang Terrace for him." This proves the mausoleum predated Confucius, who once came to offer sacrifices to Fuxi here.
In the 4th year of the Zhenguan reign of the Tang Dynasty (630 AD), Emperor Taizong Li Shimin issued an imperial edict banning local residents from grazing livestock or cutting hay within the mausoleum precincts for its protection. In the 1st year of the Xiande reign of the Later Zhou Dynasty (954 AD), Emperor Shizong issued another decree forbidding villagers from cutting firewood, gathering brush, ploughing or farming the land.
In the 1st year of the Jianlong reign (960 AD), Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty personally issued the Edict on Restoring Mausoleums and Conducting Sacrificial Rites, assigning five households to guard the mausoleum. Renovations followed during the Kaibao, Xianping, Jingde and Xiangfu reigns. The mausoleum-temple complex grew increasingly magnificent, and imperial sacrificial ceremonies were held here. After the Jingkang Incident, sacrificial rituals fell into neglect, the temple structures decayed, and by the late Yuan Dynasty, nearly all buildings had vanished.
In the 3rd year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang searched all imperial mausoleums nationwide, placing the Mausoleum of Taihao Fuxi at the top of the list. He visited Chen Prefecture in the 1st year of Hongwu and composed an official sacrificial prayer text for a grand offering in the 4th year of Hongwu.
In the 13th year of the Zhengtong reign, Zhang Zhidao, Prefect of Chen, submitted a memorial to build the Rest Hall, covered corridors, Ceremonial Gate, kitchens, storehouses and animal slaughter chambers. Further restoration took place in the 6th year of the Tianshun reign, and successive dynasties added new buildings thereafter. In the 10th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, the imperial court allocated 8,000 taels of silver for large-scale renovations, shaping the mausoleum into its present layout.
Constructed following the mathematical principles of Fuxi’s Primordial Eight Trigrams, the mausoleum-temple covers 875 mu and is hailed as "The First Mausoleum Under Heaven". Stretching 750 meters from north to south, it consists of three concentric walled enclosures: the Outer City, Inner City and Forbidden City. Lining the central axis from south to north are: Du Shan Bridge, Meridian Gate, Dao Yi Gate, Primordial Gate, Taiji Gate, Tongtian Hall, Xianren Hall, Taishi Gate, Eight Trigrams Altar, the Mausoleum Mound of Emperor Taihao Fuxi, and the Milfoil Garden.
Since ancient times, every pilgrim visiting this site has spoken heartfelt praise for its monumental architecture. After paying homage here, Lei Fangxiao of the Qing Dynasty composed a poem:
Dragon coils around Wanqiu beside green waves,
A solitary mausoleum stands lofty as a peak.
He laid the foundation of heaven and earth, boundless his merit;
His Dao surpasses all sovereigns, unmatched his bearing.
Yuan Jingshen, former President of the China Academy of Urban Planning & Design, wrote in Tales of Spring and Autumn in Ancient Huaiyang City: "The Mausoleum of Taihao Fuxi is one of China’s grand palace-style imperial mausoleum-temple complexes." Luo Zhewen, senior consultant of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and head of the Ancient Architecture Expert Panel, called it "a unique example among China’s imperial mausoleum-temple complexes". He penned a couplet in person: Three primal ancestors of Huaxia civilization; Fuxi of Huaiyang stands foremost among them.
Qian Weichang, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, inscribed "Primal Ancestor of the Chinese Nation". Yuan Jialiu, Chinese-American grandson of Yuan Shikai, left the inscription "Birthplace of Chinese Civilization".
Central leaders have attached great importance to the protection of this cultural heritage site:
- In 1997, Zhu Rongji visited the mausoleum and inscribed "Ancient Capital of the Divine Sovereign Xi"; Li Changchun visited and wrote "Humanistic Primal Ancestor".
- In 2000, Wen Jiabao inspected Huaiyang and paid homage at the mausoleum.
- In 2004, Premier Li Peng inscribed "All Clans Share a Single Root"; Vice Chairman Li Tieying wrote "Embodying the Principles of Heaven and Earth".
Detailed Introduction to the Mausoleum of Taihao Fuxi
Hongwu Temporary Imperial Lodging Stele Pavilion
The Hongwu Temporary Imperial Lodging Stele Pavilion was erected to commemorate Zhu Yuanzhang, founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, who once stayed here and personally offered sacrifices to Emperor Taihao Fuxi. The stele inside bears four large characters: Hongwu Temporary Imperial Lodging, rendered in bold cursive-clerical script handwritten by Zhang Hai, Chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association. The inscription records in full detail the historical bond between Zhu Yuanzhang and the Mausoleum-Temple of Taihao Fuxi.
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