Tomb of Li Jie in Nanjing

Tomb of Li Jie in Nanjing

The Tomb of Li Jie in Nanjing is a cultural tourism attraction.

Tomb of Li Jie in Nanjing

The original site of the Tomb of Li Jie in Nanjing was located in Yuhua Township, outside Zhonghua Gate, facing south and aligned with the spirit way. Due to construction needs, in 1996, the stele and other spirit way stone carvings were relocated to the Martyrs' Cemetery on the Purple Mountain. The spirit way stele of Li Jie, a Guardian General, is situated near the Purple Mountain in Nanjing, standing 5.05 meters tall in total. The stone carvings at Li Jie’s tomb currently include one spirit way stele, one stone sheep, one stone tiger, two stone horses with their grooms, and two stone military officials. The spirit way stele is 2.9 meters high, and the turtle pedestal is 2.5 meters long.

Li Jie (1331–1369) was one of the founding heroes of the early Ming Dynasty. He achieved numerous military merits in various battles. In the first year of the Hongwu era (1368), he joined the Grand General Xu Da in a northern campaign. In December, when the army reached Kongshan Fort, Li Jie fearlessly led the charge, became encircled by the enemy, and unfortunately died in battle at the age of 38. In August of the second year of Hongwu, his coffin was transported back to Nanjing and he was granted a burial site on the sunny side of Jubao Mountain.

Li Jie had one daughter and five sons, with his eldest daughter becoming a consort of the Hongwu Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang. According to historians, before the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang spent long periods on military campaigns, with only Consort Li the Shu being by his side. In August of the 15th year of Hongwu (1382), Empress Ma passed away due to illness at the age of 51 and was buried in the Xiaoling Mausoleum in September. Zhu Yuanzhang, who had deep feelings for Empress Ma, decided not to appoint another empress. In September of the 17th year of Hongwu (1384), after completing the three-year mourning period, Zhu Yuanzhang appointed Li Jie’s daughter as Shu Furen (Consort Shu) in October, entrusting her with overseeing the imperial harem. As Li Jie was the “father-in-law of the nation” and a meritorious official of the Ming Dynasty, he was posthumously honored as Guardian General of the State and Commander-in-Chief. In 1982, the site was listed as a Nanjing Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Li Jie was from Huoqiu, Shouzhou (present-day Huoqiu County, Lu’an City, Anhui Province) during the Ming Dynasty. He was born in 1331 and died in 1369 at the age of 38.

At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, he joined the uprising led by Zhu Yuanzhang and fought in numerous battles across the country. While serving as the Commander of Guangwu Guard on a northern campaign, he died in battle and was buried here. In the 15th year of Hongwu (1382), the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang took Li Jie’s daughter as Shu Furen, entrusting her with managing the imperial harem. Li Jie was both a founding hero and the father-in-law of the emperor, and was posthumously honored as Guardian General of the State. The stone carvings at Li Jie’s tomb currently include one spirit way stele, one stone sheep, one stone tiger, two stone horses with their grooms, and two stone military officials. The spirit way stele is 2.9 meters tall... Detailed information about Li Jie++