Meng Jiang-Nu Temple, Story behind the Great Wall

The story of Meng Jiangnu is widely spread in China. People admired her loyalty, respected her faithfulness and staunchness, so built Meng Jiang-Nu Temple to memorize her. The temple is situated on the Mountain Fenghuangshan, 6 kilometers east of Shanhaiguan Pass in Qinhuangdao City. It was first built before Song Dynasty and reconstructed in the 22nd year of Ming Wanli reign. And it is the preserved intact temple worshipping Lady Meng Jiangnu.

In front of the temple are built 108 steps using pedestrian flagstones conforming to the terrain of the mountain, symbolizing the hardships and obstacles on Meng Jiangnu's journey to look for her husband.

When visitors ascend step by step to enter the front hall via the mountain gate featuring the stele "Zhen Nv Ci", they can see the famous couplet hung on the columns that is renowned throughout the country. The first line reads “Hai shui chao zhao zhao chao zhao chao zhao luo”, and the second line reads “Fu yun zhang chang chang zhang chang zhang chang xiao”. There are actually a number of ways to understand these 2 phrases. Weighing every word carefully, the reader will begin to appreciate its inherent humor and wit.

In the middle of the hall is a mud statue of Meng Jiangnu. She is dressed in simple clothing with only light facial colors and a worried look on her face and endless grief and complaints in her eyes, making one feel the temporal dismal and loneliness of Meng Jiangnu as she searched for her husband from thousands of miles away. A visit to the Temple can be a sad and emotional one. Visitors may not know where to send their condolences to Meng Jiangnu's loyal soul, but her lonely tomb will remain forever to tell her beautiful story to later generations.