Dong Fen’s Tomb

Dong Fen’s Tomb

Dong Fen’s Tomb is a cultural relic protection unit of Suzhou City.

Dong Fen’s Tomb is located at the northern foot of Qingzhi Mountain, south of Xiangxue Village in Guangfu Town. Dong Fen (1510–1595), courtesy name Yongjun, also known as Tihua, with the art names Miyuan and Xunyang Shanren, was a native of Huzhou, Zhejiang. In the 16th year of the Jiajing reign (1537), he passed the imperial provincial examination, and in the 20th year, he earned the jinshi degree. He was later appointed as a Hanlin Academy editor, participated in compiling the Collected Statutes, and was transferred to the Right Spring Offices and the Directorate of Education. He eventually rose to the position of Minister of Rites concurrently serving as Hanlin Academician. In the 41st year of the Jiajing reign (1562), Dong Fen served as the chief examiner for the renxu imperial examination. Among hundreds of examination papers, he discovered Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue, admitting Wang Xijue as the top candidate. Soon after, both took part in the palace examination and were ranked among the top three jinshi graduates—Shen Shixing as the zhuangyuan (number one scholar), and Wang Xijue as the bangyan (number two scholar). On June 13, 1565, during the 44th year of the Jiajing reign, the imperial censor Ouyang Yijing accused Dong Fen of being an associate of Yan Song, having accepted bribes from Yan Shifan and interceding on his behalf. As a result, Dong Fen was dismissed from office and stripped of his status, returning to his hometown. One of Dong Fen’s daughters married Shen Shixing’s second son, Shen Yongjia, while another married Xu Taishi, the Vice Minister of the Imperial Stables in Suzhou. When she got married, her father gave the famous Taihu rock “Ruiyun Peak” as part of her dowry.