The first prison in China's history?

The site of the first prison in Chinese history is 4 kilometers north of tangyin county. There is a platform with a length of106m from north to south and a width of103m from east to west, which is 5m above the ground. There are more than a dozen houses and dozens of lush pines and cypresses on the platform. According to legend, this is the place where Shang Yue King imprisoned Zhou Wenwang, which was called "Maili" in ancient times. This is the first national prison on record in China.

It is said that Shang Zhouwang imprisoned Zhou Wenwang here for seven years. Subjected him to inhuman persecution and humiliation. Zhou Wang once killed Boycott, the eldest son of Zhou Wenwang, and made his body into an adult meat pie, forcing Zhou Wenwang to eat it. But all this did not destroy Zhou Wenwang's will, but made him more firm and mature. He wrote the profound and magical Book of Changes in this prison. Later generations built the Wangwen Temple here to commemorate him. The existing building of Wangwen Temple was rebuilt in Jiaqing period of Qing Dynasty.

In recent years, with the rise of "Zhouyi fever", scholars at home and abroad suggest that Maili Castle be built into a pilgrimage tourist area. To this end, the Zhouyi Research Association of Taiwan Province Province and the United States also donated $200,000 in support. On the east side of the castle is the Heart-washing Pavilion, which is a place for tourists to meditate before worshipping, and on the west side is the stage Zhan Pavilion, which is a place for divination. The main hall is located in the middle, and the bronze statue of Zhou Wenwang lives in the hall; There are murals reflecting Zhou Wenwang's life on the four walls of the hall. There are Yubei Pavilion and Yi Bei Pavilion on the east side of the main hall. Yi Bei is engraved with the hexagrams, names and characters of the sixty-four hexagrams in Zhouyi. On the west side of the main hall, there is an easy-performing stage, which is said to be an easy-performing place.

Meili City is the earliest prison with written records in the history of China. Some people say that it was once a symbol of disaster and a melting pot of wisdom. Now, it has become a famous tourist attraction at home and abroad.