About Dongshan

Dongshan County is administered under Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, and is situated along the southern coast of Fujian, between the two Special Economic Zones of Xiamen and Shantou. It faces the Taiwan Strait to the east, looking across the sea towards Taiwan, borders the Chaoshan region of Guangdong Province to the south, adjoins Zhao'an County to the west, and is bounded by Zhangpu County to the northeast. The county falls within a subtropical oceanic monsoon climate zone. Its land area is 243.4 square kilometres, with a maritime area of approximately 1,845.72 square kilometres. As of the end of 2023, the resident population of Dongshan County stood at 220,700. As of August 2023, the county administers seven townships, with the County People's Government seated at No. 3, Xianfu Road, Baishi Street, Xipu Township.

Dongshan was originally known as Tongshan at the beginning of the Ming dynasty. The Zhao'an County Gazetteer records: "The fortified city of Tongshan was originally pastoral and common land, locally known as 'Dongshan'." The Tongshan Garrison Gazetteer records: "Tongshan was a Ming dynasty naval garrison established to defend against the Wokou. Surrounded on all sides by the sea, it stands to the east of the Fifth District, and was originally called 'Dongshan'." In the twentieth year of the Hongwu reign (1387), the Marquis of Jiangxia, Zhou Dexing, constructed city walls, established a naval garrison, and set up a Thousand-Household Guard at Dongshan to strengthen coastal defences against the Wokou. As the site was connected to Tongbo in the Fifth District, the name was changed to Tongshan, and henceforth the city, the garrison, and the guard post all bore the name "Tongshan." This place name endured for more than five hundred years. When "Tongshan" was elevated to county status, however, the ancient name was restored and the county was designated Dongshan, as a county by the name of Tongshan already existed in Jiangsu Province.

The veneration of Guan Di in Dongshan traces its origins to the third year of the Zongzhang reign of the Tang dynasty (668 AD), when Chen Zheng and his son Chen Yuanguang led soldiers of 58 clans southward to open up and settle southern Fujian. To rally and comfort the hearts of their troops, they brought with them the incense fire of Guan Gong from their ancestral homeland in Henan, in the Central Plains. In Tongshan, a major coastal stronghold on the southern Fujian maritime frontier, the image of Guan Gong became deeply revered among the troops, and this tradition was perpetuated through successive generations.

Following ancient custom, on the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month each year, the people of Dongshan reverently bid farewell to Guan Di as he ascends to Heaven, and on the fourth day of the first lunar month of the New Year, they solemnly welcome his return. On the stroke of midnight on the fifth day of the first lunar month, a ceremony is held to reinstate Guan Di in his rightful place. Upon the conclusion of the rites, the county magistrate would offer the first stick of incense, draw the first divination lot, and seek divine guidance on matters of agriculture, industry, and fisheries, as well as the peace and well-being of the people, praying for blessings and the averting of calamity. Only after the magistrate had completed his prayers would the people proceed with their own divinations. Following the incorporation of Dongshan into the People's Republic of China, this custom was slightly modified: a respected elder of high standing in the local community now offers the first stick of incense and draws the first lot on behalf of the people of the county, praying for blessings and the averting of calamity for all.