Why is this stone sealed? That is the question many ask about the \u652f\u77f6\u77f3 Sculpture. We are standing before a silent witness to Chengdu’s history. It stands quietly on Zhizhi Mountain. The \u652f\u77f6\u77f3 Sculpture is encased in glass. It watches over the city below.
This stone has drawn countless curious eyes. Many people come to see the true face of the \u652f\u77f6\u77f3 Sculpture. The \u652f\u77f6\u77f3 Sculpture was originally located on Chengdu \u652f\u77f6\u77f6 Street. In 1958 it was moved to the Culture Park’s Zivi Garden.
Let me tell you more about this enigmatic artifact. In the 1990s the Qingyang Palace area became Chengdu’s bustling hub. It was a place for lantern fairs and flower shows. To accommodate these events, Culture Park expanded its lake and created a mountain. In 1997, the small lake was filled. The excavated mud formed a hill: Zhizhi Mountain. The \u652f\u77f6\u77f6 Stone was moved to the mountain top.
For safety reasons, the newly built mountain was closed. The \u652f\u77f6\u77f6u77f6 Stone on top was also sealed off. Yet, the stone was never forgotten. Many visitors came to Culture Park looking for it.
Fast forward to 2020. Chengdu launched a project to revitalize old parks. Zhizhi Mountain underwent renovations. Handrails were added. Rubber trails were laid. Three months later, the Zhizhi Mountain area reopened. The \u652f\u77f6\u77f6 Stone was finally unveiled.
What exactly is the \u652f\u77f6\u77f6 Stone? It stands 2.12 meters tall and 0.8 meters wide. A round depression marks its lower left side. Otherwise, it resembles an ordinary mountain rock. Legend connects it to two figures: Yan Junping and Zhang Qian.
The term \u652fu77f6u77f6 Stone first appeared in the Jin Dynasty. Zhang Hua’s book mentions a story of a man traveling to the Milky Way. He met a weaving woman and a cowherd. The cowherd told him to ask Yan Junping about the place. The woman gave him a stone. When the man returned, Yan Junping identified the stone. He said it was the weaving woman’s loom support.
Another story links the stone to Zhang Qian. He was an envoy to the Western Regions. This version claims Zhang Qian obtained the stone. An eastern dynasty recognized it. They declared it the weaving woman’s loom support.
Local records state the \u652fu77f6u77f6 Stone stood on Chengdu \u652fu77f6u77f6 Street. It appeared on Qing Dynasty maps. People revered the stone. They built a small temple for it. Today’s \u652fu77f6u77f6 Street features a replica. The original resides here in Culture Park.
Some connect the \u652fu77f6u77f6 Stone to ancient rock worship. Rock worship symbolizes fertility and good fortune. Regardless of its origins, the \u652fu77f6u77f6 Stone remains an important part of Chengdu’s cultural heritage. It is a reminder of the city’s long and fascinating past. The \u652fu77f6u77f6 Stone stands as a symbol. It is a symbol of history. It embodies legend. It represents cultural reverence.