Jingziting: Where Written Words Are Laid to Rest

Do you usually throw away papers filled with writing or scribbles? In traditional Chinese culture, even the most humble written words are so revered that special furnaces were built just for their respectful burning.

Sense of Wander: ★★★★☆

The Longtan Shengji Pavilion in Taoyuan City might initially give the impression of stepping into a cemetery, but its atmosphere tells a different story.

TAOYUAN, Taiwan — Stepping into Longtan Shengji Pavilion, you might first mistake it for a cemetery, but its unique atmosphere immediately tells you otherwise. Though it’s not a religious complex, there’s an undeniable sense of reverence that encourages silence — as if raising your voice or making a sound could disturb its quiet dignity.

The complex itself is laid out along a central axis, stretching across a three-section courtyard.

As you step into the first section, you’ll encounter another gate, framed by two red-bricked posts, and some animal sculptures carved in stone — classic elements of Minnan-style architecture.

On either side of the gateposts stands a stone pillar, but these aren’t ordinary pillars. Shaped like lit candles, they are actually a pair of writing brushes, or “stone pens,” with their tips pointing upward, proudly perched atop pedestals.

Moving forward, you reach the final section of the courtyard, where two altars stand apart from one another. An incense burner sits nearby, holding the charred remnants of burned incense.

A raised platform stands in the far end, with a few inviting stairs leading up to a pagoda-like structure — a furnace for burning books and papers with writing.

Stone pens like the one seen in the image are perfect for places like Shengji Pavilion, where the entire complex is centered around the reverence for written words.

The Longtan Shengji Pavilion, along with similar structure across Taiwan, plays a crucial role in preserving the cultural heritage of its Hakka communities. These roofed furnaces, known as jingziting (“Pavilion of Respect for Words”) or xiziting (“Pavilion for Cherishing Words”), were introduced to Taiwan by Hakka migrants who crossed the strait from southern China during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties. However, it’s important to note that the tradition of such pavilions was not exclusive to the Hakka.

According to Qing-dynasty texts, jingziting was established as early as the Song dynasty (960–1279) in Xichong County, Sichuan. These furnaces were prevalent among literati who, influenced by the imperial examination system, viewed words as sacred and noble.

It’s also important to remember that paper was a rare commodity in the past. After use, paper with writing was never discarded casually — instead, it might be repurposed to seal doors and windows, or carefully collected to be taken to the jingziting, where it would be burned with the utmost respect.

Initially, this practice was advocated by educated gentry and literati, but over time, the tradition spread, eventually becoming a common practice among the wider public. While some wealthy families had such furnaces built in their courtyards, jingziting were more commonly found in shuyuan (Academies of Classical Learning), temples, or on the side of the street.

Jingziting is built in the innermost section of the Longtan Shengji Pavilion complex.

Right above the furnace’s opening is the inscription “Guo Hua Cun Shen” (過化存神), meaning “Transcend the Form, Preserve the Spirit.”

On a closer look, you’ll notice calligraphic inscriptions carved into the surface of the jingziting. Directly above the furnace’s opening is the phrase “Guo Hua Cun Shen” (過化存神), meaning “Transcend the Form, Preserve the Spirit,” reflecting the profound reverence for written words. This is in line with a deep-seated belief found in scholars’ writing: “Respecting words brings blessings, while defiling them invites misfortune.”

In some regions, the ashes from burned papers were gathered and sent to rivers, symbolising the belief that all things, including written papers, should return to nature. This ritual, sometimes called songshengji (“sending sacred traces”) or songzihui (“sending ashes of written words”), can still be observed today in the Fengshan area in Kaohsiung.

On the furnace’s side and back, you’ll find names of donors and a record detailing the reconstruction of the Longtan Shengji Pavilion. Though some inscriptions have weathered over time, they’re still legible. During my visit, the furnace wasn’t in use, but the stone surface bears the marks of centuries of flames.

I first learned about jingziting during a visit to the Hakka calligraphy exhibition Ink and Identity, where I came across a work by Chen Chun-Kwang. The piece recounts the origins of these unique furnaces and is accompanied by a delicate drawing. As someone with a long-standing fascination with paper and written words, I was excited to stumble on this cultural gem, which eventually led me to journey across cities to visit the Longtan Shengji Pavilion and write this article.

The Longtan Shengji Pavilion in Taoyuan stands as a prime example of jingziting, celebrated for its size and well-preserved structure. But there are other such pavilions scattered across Taiwan, waiting for those who cherish the written word to find them.

A lengthy inscription detailing the reconstruction of the Longtan Shengji Pavilion is visible on the side of the furnace.