Built in 1919, the structure stands as a four-pillar and three-gate monument adorned with green tiles and featuring upturned eaves. It is embellished with five plaques, each bearing significant inscriptions: ‘Holy Realm of the South China Sea’, ‘Reach the Other Shore Together’, ‘Guide through the Maze with a Precious Boat’, ‘Golden Rope to the Enlightened Path’, and ‘Turn Back and Reach the Shore’. These inscriptions were penned by notable figures from the Beiyang government, including Li Yuanhong, Xu Shichang, and Feng Guozhang.
The gateposts are graced with poetic couplets that convey a sense of spiritual tranquility and reverence. One reads: “The holy traces are on Mount Jia, and all living beings in all countries are happily nurtured; The Buddha’s light shines on the island, and the tides for a thousand years calm the waves.” Another couplet invites reflection on the natural world: “There are two tides a day, and one can listen to them come and go as they please; Among thousands of mountains and countless rocks, don’t laugh at them for being unfeeling and ignorant.” A third couplet offers guidance for visitors: “When coming to this mountain, one should purify one’s aspiration first before paying homage to Pumen; When crossing that sea and going to reach the other shore, one must turn back early.”
This historical and cultural site is accessible to the public all year round and all day long, allowing for a continuous flow of visitors to appreciate its architectural beauty and spiritual significance.
