Category:Nanjing Tianfei Stele (copy at Tianfei Gong)

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English: The stele pavilion in Tianfei Gong, Nanjing - perhaps the centerpiece of the temple's ensemble, as it exists today. The pavilion contains a modern replica of the tutle-borne stele erected by the Yongle Emperor in 1416 in honor of Tianfei after Zheng He's return from his 4th expedition.

Somewhat unusual for bixi turtles, this copy faces west, rather than south. As a result, instead of conventionally facing the visitors entering the temple (who, of course, enter from the south), the turtle is turned to them with its left flank. Perhaps this orientation is a reminder of the fact that Zheng He sailed to the "Western Ocean"?

The original stele is kept in the back of the nearby Jinghai Temple (which, presumably, is the place where the original, Zheng He-era Tianfei Gong was located). This copy was made in preparation for the 600th anniversary of the start of Zheng He's voyages (2005). There is also another modern replica of this stele, at the Treasure Boat Shipyard - which, thinking of it, also faces west!
中文："御制弘仁普济天妃宫碑"（复制品）碑亭,位于天妃宫.(妃宫原碑现在位于静海寺)
Object location32° 05′ 39″ N, 118° 44′ 28″ E Kartographer map based on OpenStreetMap.View all coordinates using: OpenStreetMapinfo

Media in category "Nanjing Tianfei Stele (copy at Tianfei Gong)"

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