Quanzhou History

Geographic Links Huabiao Mountain (Also known as Wanshan Peak, located in Luoshan, Jinjiang, the site of Cao’an) Cao’an (A Manichaean temple founded in the Song Dynasty, housing the world’s only Mani stone statue) Longquan Well (Located below Cao’an, the water source for monks, featuring Song Dynasty inscriptions) Jinjiang River (The river surrounding Huabiao Mountain, a historical water route for believers from Zayton to Cao’an) Houzhu Port (The core foreign trade district of ancient Quanzhou, the entry point for Manichaeism from Persia) I. Origins: From Persian Light to the Localization of Zayton Cao’an Manichaeism, founded by the Persian prophet Mani in the 3rd century AD, centers on the “Two Principles and Three Moments”—the ultimate struggle between Light and Darkness. Over centuries, it found its final sanctuary in Quanzhou’s Zayton Port, undergoing a profound local transformation. ...

Geographic Links Luoyang River (Formerly Wan’an River, a natural barrier between Quanzhou and Huian) Wan’an Ferry (The ancient ferry crossing before the bridge, spanning five Li with treacherous waves) Quanzhou Prefecture (A major maritime hub during the Northern Song Dynasty) Huian County (Location of the bridge’s northern terminus) Zhaohui Temple (Located at the north end, dedicated to the Sea God and bridge contributors) I. The Chasm of Wan’an: Engineering Challenges of the Northern Song Luoyang Bridge, historically known as “Wan’an Bridge,” spans the mouth of the Luoyang River northeast of Quanzhou. Before the Northern Song Dynasty, this was the site of the notorious “Wan’an Ferry,” where turbulent waters and tidal surges often led to tragic shipwrecks. ...