Scenic Introduction to the General Appointment Altar

The General Appointment Altar is enclosed by white marble railings, with a wide and flat terrace. Two stone steles stand respectively on the east and west sides at the foot of the South Platform. The front face of the eastern stele bears three characters: "General Appointment Altar", and the reverse side is engraved with Dialogue on the Altar. The front face of the western stele is inscribed with eight characters: "Altar for the Appointment of Grand General Han Xin". Its reverse side carries a seven-character poem: His sincere loyalty went unrewarded; Cold sword gleamed under the moon of Weiyang Palace. Where is Emperor Peigong’s mighty empire now? Only this altar honours the hero of Huaiyin.

The poem reflects people’s disapproval of Liu Bang’s ruthless practice of casting aside loyal followers once they were no longer useful. The two steles stand facing each other, adding more historical charm to the ancient altar.

On the east side below the South Platform stands a stele about two metres tall, inscribed by the famous calligrapher Shu Tong. Carved on the back is the conversation between Han Xin and Liu Bang during the appointment, excerpted from Biography of Marquis of Huaiyin in Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian.

A pavilion with a gable roof stands on the North Platform. It features traditional brackets and upturned eaves. The beams and purlins are painted with deep purple hues and Su-style decorative paintings. The pavilion has a graceful yet steady shape, magnificent momentum and resplendent golden decorations, presenting a spectacular sight.

Hanging inside the pavilion is a couplet written by Feng Yuxiang, a patriotic general of the Kuomintang, during his stay in Hanzhong: His feats ranked him among the three top heroes; His appointment on this altar amazed the whole army.

It was this altar that brought the military genius Han Xin onto the grand battlefield of the Chu-Han Contention. He gave full play to his talent, won countless battles and helped Liu Bang seize half of the country. In a sense, the General Appointment Altar laid the foundation for the Han Dynasty.

The Hanzhong Century Bell placed at the altar weighs 11 tons. It is the largest bronze bell in western China. Its resonant sound matches the grandeur of the altar, making the two landmarks complement each other perfectly.