Ji’an Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Tower

Ji’an Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Tower

The Ji’an Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Tower serves as a patriotic education base.

The Ji’an Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Tower is located in Yushan Park, Ji’an City. It covers an area of 6,000 square meters with a built-up area of 200 square meters. The main body of the memorial tower is 14 meters high. At the center of the front side is inlaid a five-pointed star, beneath which the eight large characters “Eternal Glory to the People’s Heroes” are horizontally engraved. The lower part of the back side, from left to right, vertically engraves the inscription: Over the past half-century, in the struggles to resist foreign aggression, achieve national independence, liberate the motherland, and promote the prosperity of Ji’an, over a thousand brave souls stood firm, fought heroically, and made the ultimate sacrifice. The glorious deeds of these martyrs, along with their lofty spirit of patriotism, internationalism, and communism, are engraved in history and will endure forever.

This reconstructed memorial tower has shifted its focus from primarily commemorating 18 local martyrs such as Wang... and others, to honoring all those who sacrificed their lives for the country during the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Liberation War, and the Korean War. Among these martyrs, there are 440 from Ji’an, 41 from other regions, and several whose names and origins remain unknown. The memorial tower is now relatively well-preserved, with the surrounding park newly renovated. Located close to downtown Ji’an, it enjoys convenient transportation, beautiful natural scenery, and is easily accessible for visits.

The predecessor of the Ji’an Revolutionary Martyrs Tower was the Ji’an County Martyrs Tower. On October 1, 1949, when the People’s Republic of China was founded, the people of Ji’an built this memorial tower in commemoration of the 18 martyrs including Wang... who valiantly sacrificed their lives in the bloody battles against Japanese invaders and the Kuomintang forces. It was erected on the north side of Lotus Pond, southeast of Ji’an County. The tower consists of a base and the main structure, facing the Yalu River. The base is stepped inward for three levels from bottom to top, and the main body is a truncated square pyramid. The tower stands 12.5 meters tall and covers an area of 1,260 square meters. The front (south) side is inscribed with the bold characters “Martyrs Tower.” The base is inlaid with a rectangular stone tablet bearing the following inscription: For eight years, the Eighth Route Army fought bloody battles against the Japanese, and with the Soviet Union’s military intervention in the northeast, Japan was defeated on August 15, liberating the nation and bringing joy and victory to the people. However, the Kuomintang clique, backed by U.S. imperialism, launched a massive offensive against the people of the northeast while dispatching saboteurs to cause unrest, forcing the people to rise in self-defense. Under the leadership of the Communist Party, the people of Jí’ān, both officials and civilians, stood united, undaunted by danger, persisted in guerrilla warfare, braved wind and slept in the wild, serving the people day and night with all their hearts. Unfortunately, they were attacked by the enemy, and many sacrificed their lives. The frequent news of their deaths stirred deep resentment. Now, as the nation is about to be liberated and the People’s Republic of China is to be born, we mourn the martyrs and are even more inspired to strive forward. With this stone tower, we permanently commemorate them.

In 1971, relevant departments in Ji’an County carried out maintenance work on the martyrs tower. The original base and main body of the tower were covered with brushed cement, and cement pillars were erected. The area was enclosed with iron railings, and the courtyard was paved with asphalt. After the renovation, the martyrs tower was renamed the Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Tower. The original characters “Martyrs Tower” on the front, the inscriptions on the base, and the names of the martyrs were all covered. This memorial tower is a four-sided stepped structure, 12.5 meters high, still covering an area of 1,260 square meters. A five-pointed star is installed at the top, and the sides of the tower feature embossed golden characters in imitation of Chairman Mao’s handwriting style, all made of sheet metal. The front is inscribed with “Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Tower,” the back (north) side reads “Eternal Existence,” and the east side says “To die for the people is to die with honor.”

In 1989, due to the construction of Lotus Park, the “Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Tower” that originally stood on the north side of Lotus Pond was demolished, and a new martyrs tower was rebuilt on Dayu Mountain in Ji’an City.

In 1988, it was approved by the provincial government as a protected provincial cultural relic memorial. The Ji’an Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Tower has become one of the city’s important patriotic education bases. Every year on Tomb-Sweeping Day, personnel from party and government agencies, enterprises and public institutions, local residents, as well as primary and secondary school students, visit the memorial tower to pay tribute to the martyrs, lay wreaths, commemorate their deeds, promote the spirit of patriotism, and honor the spirits of the fallen.

Source: Ji’an Municipal Party School