Tomb of Qu Shisi

Tomb of Qu Shisi

The Tomb of Qu Shisi is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Jiangsu Province.

The Tomb of Qu Shisi is located at Niuwotan in Jinfeng, Yushan Mountain, Changshu.

Qu Shisi, courtesy name Qitian, also known as Jiaxuan or Bolue, was a native of Changshu and a prominent historical figure known for resisting the Qing invasion during the late Ming Dynasty.

In his early years, he studied under Qian Qianyi, one of the leaders of the Donglin Party, and aspired to reform the malpractices of the late Ming regime. He passed the imperial examination in 1616 during the reign of the Wanli Emperor and was appointed magistrate of Ji’an County in Jiangxi, and later transferred to Yongfeng County. During his brief tenure in Yongfeng, he carried out reforms to address malpractices, earning widespread praise. In 1628, the first year of the Chongzhen Emperor’s reign, he was promoted to the position of Imperial Censor in the Ministry of Revenue. Known for his outspokenness, he impeached remnants of the eunuch faction that had not yet been purged from the court and was falsely accused and imprisoned. After his release, he returned to Changshu. In 1644, the seventeenth year of the Chongzhen reign, the Prince of Fu reinstated him as Assistant Prefect of Yingtian Prefecture. In 1646, the third year of the Shunzhi Emperor's reign, when Qing forces captured Tingzhou, Qu and Governor Ding Kuichu supported the enthronement of the Prince of Gui in Wuzhou. The following year, after a defeat in Guangzhou, they retreated to Guilin. Qu rose through the ranks to become Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion and Minister of War, defending Guilin alongside General Jiao Lian and repelling Qing attacks. In 1650, the seventh year of the Shunzhi reign, Guilin fell. Qu and Governor Zhang Tongchang were captured. In prison, they vowed not to surrender to the Qing and faced death fearlessly. Qu was executed on November 17. His student Yang Yi risked his life to recover the body, which was later returned to Changshu for burial by Qu’s grandson Changwen. The Prince of Gui posthumously honored him as Duke of Yue and granted him the posthumous title “Wenzhong.” The Qing court posthumously awarded him the title “Zhongxuan.”

The tomb complex is quite large, featuring a stone memorial archway, a moon-shaped pool, a processional path, a platform base, and an outer wall (luocheng). Within the luocheng are three tombs: the main tomb belongs to Qu Shisi, the left tomb to his son Qu Xuanxi, and the right tomb to his grandson Qu Changwen. Outside the luocheng and along both sides of the processional path are planted pine, cypress, and other trees. The central plaque of the stone archway is inscribed with “Tomb of Qu Shisi, Late Ming Literary Loyalist, Posthumously Honored as Zhongxuan by the Qing Court.” On either side of the archway are stone pillars engraved with a couplet: “In the midnight hour beneath the yellow dust glows the white moon; A loyal heart the size of a grain reaches the purple heavens,” authored by Yan ???? of their hometown. Various inscriptions describe his noble spirit and heroic death. In later years, the structure suffered damage and was restored at different times. In 1981, repairs were made to the tomb mound, outer wall, and processional path.

This tomb was designated as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit on October 18, 1956.

Qu Shisi (1590–1650), courtesy name Qitian, also known as Jiaxuan or Yunye, and also referred to as Bolue, was a Han Chinese from Changshu, Jiangsu. He was a late Ming poet, official, and national hero.

In his early years, Qu Shisi studied under Qian Qianyi. In 1616, he passed the imperial examination and was later appointed magistrate of Yongfeng County in Jiangxi, where he achieved notable administrative results. In 1623, he returned home due to his father’s death and associated with the Western missionary Giulio Aleni (Ai Rulüe), later converting to Christianity and taking the baptismal name Thomas. He even wrote a preface for one of Aleni’s works on sexual ethics.

In 1628, he was promoted to Imperial Censor of the Ministry of Revenue, frequently submitting memorials accusing and criticizing... (More detailed information about Qu Shisi++)

Further Reading:

· First and Second Batches of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units