Memorial Temple of Lu Xiufu

Memorial Temple of Lu Xiufu

The Memorial Temple of Lu Xiufu is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

The exact time of the construction of the Memorial Temple of Lu Xiufu varies in historical records. Some say it was first built during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, but the more credible account is that it was established in the 10th year of the Jiajing reign (1531 AD). This classical structure features upturned eaves and glazed tiles, designed in a three-courtyard, two-wing layout, and was built to commemorate Lu Xiufu, the last chancellor of the Southern Song Dynasty. The temple was destroyed during the Anti-Japanese War; after the founding of the People's Republic, it was rebuilt on the original site and in its original style; during the Cultural Revolution, it was occupied as staff dormitories and suffered further severe damage; it was reconstructed again in 1984.

Lu Xiufu was born on October 8th, 1236, in Jianxiang Changjianli, Yancheng County, Chuzhou (now Jianyang Town, Jianhu County, Yancheng City). In 1256, he passed the imperial examination in the same class as Wen Tianxiang. In 1278, after Emperor Duanzong Zhao Shi passed away, Lu Xiufu enthroned the 8-year-old Wei Wang Zhao Bing as emperor and was promoted to Left Chancellor. On February 6th, 1279, when Yazhou (now within Xinhui, Guangdong) was captured by the Yuan general Zhang Hongfan, Lu Xiufu, realizing that all was lost, wept before the young emperor: “The nation is lost—Your Majesty must die for the country. Emperor Duanzong has already suffered great humiliation; Your Majesty must not endure any more!” After adjusting his robes and hiding the imperial jade seal in the bosom of the child emperor, with a golden seal hanging from his waist, he embraced the emperor and jumped into the sea, dying a heroic death at the age of 44, while the boy emperor was just 9. More than ten thousand others followed him into the sea.

At the time, Zhang Hongfan inscribed the words “Zhang Hongfan exterminated the Song here.” Later, people in the Ming Dynasty defaced the stone carving, and it has now been changed to read “Here, the young Song Emperor and Chancellor Lu Xiufu died for their country.” Seven days later, their bodies floated to the surface, and local fishermen buried them at Qingjingkou, north of Yazhou (now within Raoping County, Guangdong).

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangsu Province