China Travel – Jiuri Mountain Stone Carving
The Jiuri Mountain Stone Carving is located in Fengzhou Town of Nan’an County, Fujian Province.
The 80-meter-high mountain is world famous for its beautiful scenery and abundant relics. With northern, eastern and western summits, the mountain’s main places of interest include Bajie Stone, Laofo Rock, Jiangxiang Summit and Jiangxiang Tomb.
On the eastern and western summits, the Stone Carving of Jiuri Mountain has its most valuable relics. Among the 75 stone inscriptions from the Song (960-1279) to the Qing (1644-1911) Synasties, 13 detail the praying wind in overseas transport. (Wind was a major factor for sailing in the ancient times.) Before setting off on a voyage, the fleet prayed for safety — a very formal rite. The head of Quanzhou County took charge of the rite with the crew and businessmen before the God of the Sea, then wined and dined in the memorial hall, engraving the rites on stones.
Built in 965 on top of the western summit is a 4.5-meter-tall stone Buddha seated cross-legged on a lotus pedestal.
(Source: chinaculture.org)