There are Dongdu Hall, Taishan Hall and Youyi Hall in Qiantong Temple, which record the successful crossing of the East by the alchemist Xu Fuyong and young boys and girls and skilled craftsmen in the Qin Dynasty and the impact on the Japanese archipelago. Qiantong Town was called "Rao'an Town" in the Shang, Zhou and Warring States periods, which means "the land is fertile and can be used for people's comfort". "Records of the Grand Historian: The Family of Zhao" mentioned that in the sixth year of Emperor Qin Shihuang (241 BC), "Zhao General Pang attacked Qi and took Rao'an", which refers to this place. In the Qin Dynasty, this place was called "Qiantong City". "The First Emperor sent Xu Fu to lead a thousand boys and girls to the sea to seek Penglai, and built this city for them to live in, hence the name." In the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty (202 BC), a county was established here and called "Qiantong County". In the second year of Xiping in the Northern Wei Dynasty (517 AD), the Cangzhou Prefecture was established here. Qiantong Town was the seat of a prefecture and county for 841 years in history. In 209 BC, Xu Fu, on the order of Qin Shihuang, bravely led thousands of boys and girls and skilled craftsmen to set sail from here in search of the elixir of immortality. They crossed the ocean and successfully immigrated to Japan, setting a precedent for friendly exchanges between China and Japan and becoming the first overseas Chinese hometown in Chinese history.
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Philosophy related to the heritage
As a cultural relic commemorating historical events, the connotation of Qiantong Temple in Cangzhou can be interpreted from the perspectives of Eastern and Western philosophy. Eastern philosophy emphasizes the unity of man and nature and historical inheritance. From this perspective, Qiantong Temple symbolizes the continuation of collective memory and history, and embodies the spirit of loyalty and group ethics emphasized by Confucianism. This memorial site evokes people's respect for the sages and reflection on historical lessons. As Lao Tzu said, "Learning from the past can help us understand the rise and fall of things." Historical relics carry eternal values that transcend individuals. Western philosophy pays more attention to the discussion of individuals and meanings. From an existentialist perspective, Qiantong Temple is an individual's struggle against death and history, and its existence itself is a manifestation of value. The inscriptions and records in the temple are a respect for the lost lives and a call for the meaning of future generations. This is consistent with Heidegger's concept of "living towards death," that is, human beings give life more profound meaning by remembering history. Therefore, Qiantong Temple is not only a monument to historical events, but also a bridge connecting Eastern and Western philosophy: it not only carries collective memory, but also inspires individuals to think deeply about their own existence.