Zhongsu Shrine

Zhongsu Shrine

Zhongsu Shrine is a cultural relics protection unit of Yixing City.

Zhongsu Shrine, located at the eastern end of Dongzhu Lane in Yicheng Town, Yixing City, was built to commemorate Lu Xiangsheng, a late Ming Dynasty Minister of War and renowned anti-Qing general. In January 1985, the Yixing County People's Government designated it as a county-level cultural relics protection unit.

Lu Xiangsheng (1600–1639), courtesy name Jiandou, art name Jiutai, was a native of Mingling in Yixing. He became a Jinshi (imperial scholar) in the second year of the Tianqi era (1622) of the Ming Dynasty and successively held positions such as Principal Clerk of the Ministry of Revenue, Prefect of Daming, Censorate Official, Right Associate Censor-in-Chief, Left Associate Censor-in-Chief, Vice Minister of War concurrently serving as Governor-General of Huguang, Left Vice Minister of War, and Minister of War. He was thrice bestowed with the Imperial Sword. Although a scholar, Lu was skilled in horseback archery, adept in strategy, and capable of commanding troops. He led armies to suppress rebellions, achieving numerous military successes, and staunchly advocated resistance against the Qing while opposing peace negotiations. On the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month in the eleventh year of the Chongzhen era, he died in battle against Qing forces at Haoshui Bridge in Julu, Hebei. In the twelfth year of Chongzhen, he was posthumously honored as Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and Minister of War, granted a state funeral, and his family was awarded hereditary status as a captain of the Imperial Guard. During the Southern Ming under Emperor Fu, he was further posthumously titled “Loyal and Heroic.”

Originally called the Lu Gong Shrine, Zhongsu Shrine was first built in the 26th year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1687). In the 41st year of the Qianlong era (1776), the Qing court conferred the posthumous title “Zhongsu” upon Lu Xiangsheng, after which it became known as Zhongsu Shrine. In the fourth year of the Xianfeng era (1854), the shrine was destroyed in war, but was rebuilt in the ninth year of the Tongzhen era (1870) through funds raised by local gentry and descendants of Lu Xiangsheng.

The original structure of Zhongsu Shrine faced south and was situated northward, bordering Changqiao River to the north and Dongzhu Lane to the south. It comprised over 20 rooms across two courtyards, covering an area of about 1,000 square meters. In front of the shrine was a small plaza paved with bluestone slabs along the river. The central hall of the first courtyard featured a plaque inscribed with “A Rare Paragon of Antiquity,” written by Zhou Fohai, former Minister of Education of the Nationalist Government. Wooden stands in the east and west side rooms were used to enshrine spirit tablets. One tablet was inscribed “For the Spirits of the Fallen Soldiers Under Minister Lu Xiangsheng of the Ming Ministry of War.” Another held the tablet of Gu Xian, a loyal servant who died alongside Lu. The first and second courtyards each had three side rooms on the east and west sides. The west side rooms enshrined the tablets of Lu’s uncles—Lu Guoyun, Lu Guojun, and Lu Guohong—and his brothers Lu Xiangguan, Lu Xiangguo, Lu Xiangjin, and Lu Xiangzhen. The east side rooms housed the tablets of Lu’s generals Hu Dawei and Yang Guozhu, the intelligence officer Yu Zhenlong, and the groom Yang Lukai. The main hall of the second courtyard consisted of three central rooms plus one side room on each east and west side. A plaque inscribed “Loyalty, Filial Piety, Literary and Martial Prowess” hung above the central doorway, flanked by couplets reading “Without Sichang, one cannot surpass Guo Fenyang; with Tinglin, one becomes Yue Wumu.” Inside the hall stood a golden-painted, full-body clay statue of Lu Xiangsheng. Before the statue was a spirit tablet inscribed “For the Spirit of Lu Zhongsu, Minister of War, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty.” Statues of his chief officers and seal-keepers stood on either side. Above the spirit seat hung a blue plaque with gold characters reading “The Noble Spirit Lives On.” Flanking the main hall were more spirit tablets—on the west, those of Lu’s parents, and on the east, that of his wife. The side rooms of the main hall served as studies, housing a complete collection of The Collected Works of Lu Zhongsu.

After the 1950s, Zhongsu Shrine was repurposed and most of its structures were demolished or altered. In 2001, the Yixing Municipal Government allocated funds to rebuild the shrine on its original site. The reconstructed building faces north and features a central hall with three rooms, housing a purple-sand sculpture of Lu Xiangsheng. Each of the east and west side rooms also has three rooms—the east room displays a group purple-sand sculpture of Lu and his soldiers, while the west room features a purple-sand scene of Lu studying. Historical materials and biographical exhibits on Lu Xiangsheng are displayed in the shrine for public viewing.

Yicheng Subdistrict: The Yicheng Subdistrict Office is the seat of Yixing Municipal Government and serves as the city’s political, economic, and cultural center, as well as its window to the outside world. Covering an area of 40 square kilometers with a population of 240,000, it administers 30 community committees and 6 administrative villages. The jurisdiction of Yicheng Town is divided by the Wuxi-Shanghai Canal: the area inside the canal adjacent to the urban core falls under Yicheng’s administration, while the area outside the canal is managed by the Yixing Economic Development Zone. Community committees, villages (groups), and enterprises originally belonging to Yicheng within this zone are entrusted to the Economic Development Zone. Non-incorporated villages (groups) may establish new village committees or merge with neighboring ones… More details about Yicheng Subdistrict++