Lu Gong Ancestral Hall

Lu Gong Ancestral Hall

Lu Gong Ancestral Hall is a cultural tourism attraction.

Lu Gong Ancestral Hall was built to commemorate Lu Yayu, a Jinshi during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty and the Salt Transport Commissioner of Lianghuai. Construction began in the 12th year of the Republic of China (1923) and was completed in the autumn of 1924. It was named “Lu Gong Ancestral Hall,” and its original site was located in Luci Village, Xintan Township. At that time, Liu Zhangdong specially invited Kang Youwei, the leader of the reformists during the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, to inscribe a large plaque for Lu Gong Ancestral Hall that read “Lianghuai Lu Dutong Ancestral Hall.” Since then, “Lu Gong Ancestral Hall” gained widespread fame and eventually became the name of the locality.

Lu Yayu, whose given name was Lu Jianzeng and courtesy name Baosun, also used the alias Yayu Shanren, was a Jinshi during the Qianlong era. In the 19th year of Qianlong’s reign, he was appointed by imperial decree “to resume his post as Transport Commissioner, and in the 20th year, he managed salt administration duties.” During this period, he handled a case in which salt field households accused the Song family, a group of salt merchants, of exploitation and oppression. He believed that the salt field households should be responsible for paying land grain taxes and recognized their land ownership rights. He submitted a detailed report to the imperial court, stating his position, which explicitly included the important provision “salt fields belong to merchants, but taxes are paid by salt field households.” This provision was later approved by the imperial court and filed with the Six Ministries. Later generations referred to this detailed report as the “Lu Case.” Although the “Lu Case” could have resolved the issue, “although the decision was made, the salt field households did not get the chance to implement it.” At that time, “a seawater disaster struck,” and “many salt fields were flooded. Jianzeng petitioned for tax relief and differentiated assistance, earning the gratitude of the salt field households.” Unfortunately, “good people do not last long,” and the Salt Transport Commissioner Lu was later “framed by his successor and ultimately sentenced.” Fortunately, “he was later granted a special imperial pardon to clear his name.” Although the dispute between merchants and salt field households could be referenced through the “Lu Case,” due to the salt merchants using every possible means and bribing officials at all levels, the provisions of the “Lu Case” were never implemented, and the salt field households continued to suffer under the cruel exploitation and oppression of the salt merchants.