The Imperial Stele Pavilion of Zixiao Palace

There are two imperial Stele pavilions in Zixiao Palace, which were built in the tenth year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty. The Imperial Stele Pavilion is located on a tall stone platform, in a square shape, with arches on each side. The arches are 5.1 meters high and 3.5 meters wide. Inside the pavilion, there is a huge turtle carrying the imperial stele, all carved from a single piece of bluestone. The Imperial Stele Pavilion is one of the indispensable buildings in the various palaces and temples of Wudang Mountain. The two pavilions respectively house two imperial stele steles. One is the imperial edict stele, which promulgates the management regulations of Wudang Mountain. The first one is the Completion Stele, which records why Emperor Yongle built Wudang Mountain and the process. This is a unique and significant symbol of high-level palaces in the Ming Dynasty architecture of Wudang Mountain. According to research, the Imperial Stele Pavilion represents an important stage in the form of Chinese inscriptions. The sculpture of the giant turtle carrying the imperial stele in the pavilion evolved from the ancient tortoise shell inscriptions. Ancient people believed that only the giant turtle was qualified to convey important orders to the world.