天妃灵应之记碑, Stone inscription monument in Changle, China
The Tianfei Lingying Monument is a stone inscription carved with over 1,000 characters in regular script across multiple columns. The text documents detailed records about maritime journeys and the people who undertook them.
The monument was created in 1431 during the Ming Dynasty and documents large-scale journeys that explored oceans and coastlines over several decades. It was made shortly after these significant expeditions ended and recorded their key moments.
The inscription shows the bond between seafarers and Tianfei, the goddess believed to protect travelers on the water. This religious practice was central to people who spent months at sea and sought divine protection.
The monument is housed in the Zheng He Historical Museum in Changle for visitors to view. The carved characters are closely spaced, so plan to spend time studying them up close to read the full inscription.
This is the only surviving record of these expeditions carved in stone by people who were directly involved in the journeys themselves. The fact that it was carved in stone shows the community believed these voyages deserved to be preserved forever.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
