Tomb of Yao Chengzu

Tomb of Yao Chengzu

The Tomb of Yao Chengzu is a cultural heritage site protected by the Suzhou Municipal Government.

The Tomb of Yao Chengzu is located on the west side of the Kuai Xiang Tomb Garden, south of Yufan Village in Xukou Town. Yao Chengzu (1866–1938), courtesy name Hanting, art name Buyun, was a native of Shuli Village in Wuxian County. He was a master architect of the modern “Xiangshan School” and was honored as the “Elder Craftsman of the Jiangnan Region” and a “Master of His Generation.” At the age of 11, Yao began apprenticing under his uncle Yao Kaisheng in Suzhou to learn woodworking, and later opened the Yao Kaitai Construction Firm in the city to engage in building projects. Over his lifetime, he designed and constructed more than a thousand halls, pavilions, towers, temples, and shrines. Famous structures such as the Mahavira Hall of Lingyan Mountain Temple, the Plum Blossom Pavilion at Xiangxuehai in Guangfu, the Lotus Fragrance Pavilion in Yi Garden, and the Yan Family Garden in Mudu were all his creations.

In 1912, he advocated for the establishment of the Suzhou Lu Ban Association and served as its president, organizing craftsmen to study and refine their skills together, thereby enhancing their craftsmanship and overall quality. Yao Chengzu was the first craftsman from the “Xiangshan School” to teach at a university. After the founding of Suzhou Industrial Specialized School, he was exceptionally hired by the Department of Architectural Engineering to teach Chinese architecture. During this time, based on his own lecture notes and private collections of secret architectural manuals, he wrote the book Yingzao Fayuan, which has been praised as the “treasure book of southern Chinese architecture.”

Yao Chengzu passed away in 1939 and was buried on Fahua Mountain. The tomb covered an area of 8.5 fen (a traditional unit of land measure), and the gravestone, altar, surrounding stone railings, and tree arrangements were all personally designed by him before his death. However, in 1971, rebels blasted open the tomb and removed the coffin. His grandson had no choice but to rebury the remains on the original site. In 1982, due to the production needs of the local commune, the remains were relocated to the northern foot of Yinshan Mountain in Shuli Brigade. In 1992, Yao Chengzu’s remains were moved again to be interred next to the tomb of Kuai Xiang, the progenitor of the “Xiangshan School” craftsmen, so that both could share in the commemoration of future generations.

Xukou Town: Xukou Town is located on the shore of Taihu Lake, about 10 kilometers west of Suzhou. It is said to have been named after Wu Zixu, who dug the Xukou inlet into the lake. The town covers a total area of 36.6 square kilometers, governs six administrative villages and one community neighborhood committee, has a registered population of 36,000, and a resident population of nearly 100,000.

Xukou Town boasts a long history and profound cultural heritage. It has been designated by the Ministry of Culture as the “Hometown of Chinese Calligraphy and Painting” and a “Chinese Cultural (Fine Arts) Industry Demonstration Base.” The “Xiangshan Ancient Architecture Craftsmanship” has been listed among the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritages and the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity... More information about Xukou Town++