Ancient Juntai

Ancient Juntai

Ancient Juntai, also known as xiatai, is located in Yuzhou City, Henan Province. It is the place where Xia Qi feasts the princes and holds the founding ceremony. "Juntai enjoyment" has become the first state banquet in China. Since then, the emperors of the Xia Dynasty, the central government and the princes discussed state affairs here, which became an important part of the imperial palace.

Existing buildings

The existing ancient Juntai, in a high court of Yuzhou City, was rebuilt by Yuzhou Prefecture magistrate in 1679. It is a brick and stone structure, with a height of 4.4 meters, a width of 7.4 meters, a hole under the platform and a depth of 6.15 meters. In the middle of the south, there is a cave gate, 2.46 meters wide and 2.87 meters high, with stone arches. On the top of the gate is the inscription "ancient Juntai". On both sides of the cave gate, there are brick couplets. The first couplet "gets its name from summer" and the second couplet "reminisces of the past and ascends the stage". The original pavilions on the stage were damaged during the period of the Republic of China. In 1991, Yuzhou municipal government allocated more than 100000 yuan to rebuild them. After the restoration of the ancient Juntai, the cave forehead and couplets remain the same. The pavilion and hall built on the platform are of double eaves and two drops of water palace style. There are 24 bright columns, red columns, yellow tiles, and through flower doors and windows around the antique building. Surrounded by green stone carving railings, 20 stone railings are engraved with historical allusions and landscape paintings related to Xia Qi. The whole building is simple, elegant and magnificent.

historical significance

It is said that when Tang Yao (known as Emperor Yao in historical records) and Yu Shun were the tribal leaders, the Yellow River Basin was flooded, the land was vast, and people's life was very difficult. Emperor Yao sent chongbogan to control the flood, and he used the method of blocking the mat to control the flood for nine years without success. Yu Shun sent Chong Bogan's son, Yu, to control the flood. Yu summed up his father's experience and lessons in flood control. He said, "I've been living abroad for 13 years, and I'm afraid to enter the family". He was "poor in food and clothing", "humble in the palace", "spend money in the valley" ("Shiji · xiabenji"), and finally managed the flood by means of persuasion. Yu's personal reputation and strength grew with each passing day. Soon, he forced Shun to give up the throne to himself by force, and Yu became the leader of Xia tribal alliance. According to historical records, Yu divided the world into nine states, divided the residents into nine regions according to the region, ruled and collected tribute and taxes. In order to strengthen its own rule, it formulated criminal law, set up prisons, the army and other public power institutions, and initially established a slavery state power.

Historical facts

After Yu died, his son Qi inherited his position. Bo Yi, the leader of the Oriental Yi nationality, and Qi's clan with the same surname had the Hu family. Under the pretext of maintaining the old tradition, they rebelled. Xia Qi conquered them by force, killed Boyi, and punished Youhu as a serf. For the first time, he realized the change from abdication to family rule. Xiaqi was located in Xiayi in the year of xiaqiyuan. It was a great event in Chinese history. It marked the formal establishment of the first slavery state in Chinese history. Xiayi is now Yuzhou City in Henan Province. Juntai is also called xiatai. Juntai was originally located at the East peak of nansanfeng mountain in Yuzhou City, adjacent to Yingshui. According to shuijingzhu, the water (Yingshui) passes through Sanfeng mountain in the East and Daling mountain in the southeast. There is a divination Pavilion on the mausoleum, which is called Juntai. After the war, the ancient Juntai disappeared. In 1699, Zhizhou rebuilt the ancient Juntai in the northwest corner of Yuzhou City. It was rebuilt again in the reign of Emperor Guangxu of Qing Dynasty. The shape of the ancient Juntai is slightly rectangular, sitting north to south, brick and stone structure. There is an arched entrance in the middle, which passes through the north and south. There are three words "ancient Juntai" on the forehead of the arch, and a brick couplet is embedded on both sides of the cave gate: it got its name from Xia Dynasty, and several platforms were built in memory of ancient times. There is a pavilion on the platform, which was destroyed in the Republic of China. Because of its disrepair, Yuzhou Municipal People's Government rebuilt the ancient Juntai at the original site in 1991. The reconstructed ancient Juntai is wider and similar in shape. There are tiger nail and vermilion doors in the cave. A stone plaque engraved with the word "ancient Juntai" is embedded on the lintel. Couplets on both sides of the original arched gate are still embedded on both sides of the gate. The Pavilion Hall on the platform is a palace style antique building with double eaves and two drops of water. It is supported by 24 vermilion pillars, yellow tiles, flower through doors and windows, and surrounded by blue stone carved railings. On the whole, the ancient Juntai looks simple, elegant and magnificent.

Experience of wind and rain

Behind the ancient Juntai is the Yuwang temple. In order to commemorate Xia Yu, Yuwang temple was established in the Tianbao period of Tang Dynasty (742-756). The original scale of Yuwang temple was relatively large, including the main hall, the second hall, the gallery, the gate and so on. There are two statues of Xia Yu and Xia Qi in the hall. However, due to its long history, there is only one hall and two stone tablets.

Ancient Juntai is a landmark ancient building of Yuzhou City, a symbol of Yuzhou City, and an important historical evidence of Yuzhou as the birthplace of Xia Yu Dynasty. In 1958, it was announced as a county-level cultural relics protection unit by the people's Government of Yu county at that time. Later, it was repaired many times. In 2008, it became a cultural relic protection unit in Henan Province.

Current situation

The reconstructed ancient Juntai is wider and similar in shape. There are tiger nail and vermilion doors in the cave. A stone plaque engraved with the word "ancient Juntai" is embedded on the lintel. Couplets on both sides of the original arched gate are still embedded on both sides of the gate. The Pavilion Hall on the platform is a palace style antique building with double eaves and two drops of water. It is supported by 24 vermilion pillars, yellow tiles, flower through doors and windows, and surrounded by blue stone carved railings. On the whole, the ancient Juntai looks simple, elegant and magnificent.

Behind the ancient Juntai is the Yuwang temple. In order to commemorate Xia Yu, Yuwang temple was established in the Tianbao period of Tang Dynasty (742-756). The original scale of Yuwang temple was relatively large, including the main hall, the second hall, the gallery, the gate and so on. There are two statues of Xia Yu and Xia Qi in the hall. However, due to its long history, there is only one hall and two stone tablets.

Ancient Juntai is a landmark ancient building in Yuzhou and a symbol of Yuzhou City. In 1958, it was announced as a cultural relic protection unit at the county level by the people's Government of Yu County. In 2008, it became a cultural relic protection unit in Henan Province.

Address: gujuntai East West Street, Yuzhou City, Xuchang City, Henan Province

Longitude: 113.471022

Latitude: 34.165582