The Tomb of Duan Yucai

The Tomb of Duan Yucai

The Tomb of Duan Yucai is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

Duan Yucai, courtesy name Ruoying, style name Maotang, was a native of Jintan and a renowned philologist of the Qian-Jia School during the Qing Dynasty. He authored hundreds of volumes in his lifetime, and his work Commentary on Shuowen Jiezi made immortal contributions to the inheritance and development of China’s language and literature.

His tomb is located near Dabaotou Village in Huashan Township, Jintan County. Over the years, it fell into disrepair and the mound became overgrown. In 1985, funds were allocated for its restoration. The tomb area was enclosed with blue brick walls, measuring 22 meters in width from east to west and 12 meters in depth from north to south. Stone pillars at the courtyard gate bear the inscription: “A thousand-year legacy in the joy of scholarly toil; an unyielding family spirit of a seventh-rank official.” Nine stone steps lead to a pathway for entering and exiting the site. At the center of the tomb area lies the grave of Duan Yucai, with a memorial plaque reading: “The Late Qing Tomb of Mr. Duan Maotang and His Wife.” To the east is the tomb of Duan’s mother, and to the west is a newly erected memorial stele by the Jintan County People’s Government and the China Society of Philology, commemorating the tomb’s restoration. The tomb area backs onto Mount Mao and enjoys a serene environment.

On October 22, 2002, the Tomb of Duan Yucai was designated as part of the fifth group of cultural relic protection units of Jiangsu Province.

Duan Yucai (1735–1815)

A Qing Dynasty classicist, phonologist, and philologist. Courtesy name Ruoying, style name Maotang. Native of Jintan, Jiangsu. Grandfather of Gong Zizhen. Duan Yucai was well-read and highly prolific, approaching the study of classical texts through philology. Within philology, he further explored philological interpretation of characters through phonology. His foundation was solid, and he grasped the essential principles. His work Six Categories of Chinese Characters Phonological Chart, based on Gu Yanwu’s Five Books on Phonology and Jiang Yong’s (1681–1762) Standards of Ancient Rhymes, divided ancient rhymes into 17 categories, marking an epoch-making contribution to the study of ancient phonology. Commentary on Shuowen Jiezi is grand in scope and profound in thought... More details on Duan Yucai ++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Group of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangsu Province