The Epoch of Chinese Characters: The Stone Drum Pavilion in Baoji

The Stone Drum is a granite carving from the pre-Qin period, which has been passed down through its inscriptions, recording various activities of the pre-Qin monarchs such as celebrations, sacrifices, fishing and hunting, and military training. The Stone Drum Pavilion is located in the China Stone Drum Park in the downtown area of Baoji City, nestled to the south against the Qinling Mountains' Jifeng Mountain, and facing the Wei River's Jinwei Lake to the north. Since the Stone Drum was discovered on Baoji's Stone Drum Mountain, it holds special significance for the discovery and transmission of Chinese characters. Consequently, the Baoji Municipal Committee and Government invested in its construction, with the inscription: 'The rites of Zhou and the laws of Qin have been transmitted through the ages; inscriptions on metal and stone continue the chronicles of spring and autumn.' The carriers of Chinese characters have evolved from oracle bones in the Shang dynasty to the advent of paper. In between, the Stone Drum, along with pagodas, bronze vessels, pottery, bamboo (wood) slips, and silk, have all served as carriers for recording Chinese characters. It is through the organization of events recorded on these carriers that the continuity of Chinese history has been completed. The Stone Drum is one of the earliest recording mediums and is significant for that reason. The Stone Drum is made of granite, with a diameter of about 1 meter and each drum weighing approximately 1 ton. Its shape closely resembles that of a drum, hence the name Stone Drum. Baoji was anciently known as Chencang, so it is also referred to as the 'Chencang Stone Drum.' Each Stone Drum is engraved with a four-character poem by the Qin people, hence the term 'Stone Drum Script.' The Stone Drum Pavilion is majestic, and the park contains several sculptures that reflect the content recorded in the Stone Drum Script, leaving a profound impression on visitors. On the first day of the Dragon Year, visiting the Stone Drum Pavilion to see the 'Stone Drum Chronicles' exhibition was not just a simple self-driven trip of thousands of miles for the author, who has long cherished Chinese characters, studied the evolution of writing, and recorded the carriers of writing. It was a truly precious and rare learning opportunity, and the Stone Drum Pavilion has been deeply etched into my memory.