In Huanghua city, located in Cangzhou, Hebei Province of North China, archaeologists recently unearthed a fragmented stone stele with an impressive 538 years of history etched into its surface.
The inscriptions on the discovered remnant led the archaeologists to identify it as a commemorative monument to a local temple. This temple was devoted to Bixia Yuanjun, a Taoist goddess who, according to ancient belief, blessed people and brought them good fortune. Zhang Baogang, the director of Huanghua museum, explained that these types of temples are emblematic of “sea worship,” an ancient tradition predominantly observed in Northern China.
Constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the stele is currently the oldest known artifact in the region that documents this distinctive folk tradition. The stele, measuring 1.75 meters in length and 0.4 meters in width, provides a unique glimpse into the region’s cultural history.
Zhu Tong, a researcher of Chinese folk culture, told the Global Times that the tradition of sea worship typically involved offerings made to the sea to wish for successful fishing. “The custom was especially prevalent in ancient coastal cities in Shandong Province, demonstrating the deep-rooted respect that Chinese people have for nature,” Zhu noted. The researcher further highlighted the use of ceremonial items such as pork chops, mantou (steamed buns), and momo, or decorated steamed buns, in these rituals.
One particular inscription on the stele makes a reference to Chang Lu Yan Fa Zhi, a book from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) about China’s salt culture. Zhang, the museum director, explained that this reference indicates that the local population once relied on extracting salt from seawater as a primary livelihood.
Zhu emphasized the discovery’s immense scholarly value, stating, “The stone stele provides vital insights into the study of ancient northern sacrificial culture and ritual traditions.” The relic provides a critical window into understanding the cultural, economic, and societal norms of ancient China.
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