The monument was erected in the third year of Hongwu (1370) at the behest of Zhu Yuanzhang, emperor Taizu of Ming Dynasty, and was written by Wang Wei, minister of Rites. Zhu Yuanzhang cancelled all previous titles of nanhai Temple because of its complexity and simplicity, and renamed Nanhai God as "The God of Nanhai". To protect this precious relic, glass covers have been installed around the pavilion.