A Textual Study on the Rain-Praying Altar (Jiudou Altar) in Yixing: The Origins of the Folklore of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai

The Rain-Praying Altar in Yixing is traditionally attributed to Emperor Wu of Liang dynasty, yet archaeological and textual research confirms its origins as a sealed altar dating back no later than the Southern Dynasties period. Verified findings reveal that it was originally named the Jiudou Altar and later termed Liangshan Temple, most likely constructed under Sun Hao, the King of Wu, one of the Three Kindoms, as a ceremonial site for imperial Fengshan rites. Yixing, once the fiefdom of Xiao Yan who later became Emperor Wu of Liang, led to the altar’s association with the “Temple of the King of Liang”. Historical records indicate that Emperor Wu of Liang later performed rain-praying rituals here, further embedding the site in Liang dynasty lore. By Tang and Song dynasties, the altar had evolved into the “Temple of Liang Shanbo”, while the surrounding hills—referred to as “Zhu Yingtai”, inspired the legendary love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. This folklore became the spatial origin of China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Yixing Rain-Praying Altar thus exemplifies the organic interplay between material and intangible cultural heritage, offering profound insights into the historical continuity and symbolic evolution of ceremonial landscapes in Chinese history.