Tomb of Zhongyong

Tomb of Zhongyong

The Tomb of Zhongyong is a Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Tomb of Zhongyong is situated on the eastern ridge of Yu Mountain, west of Beimen Street in the urban area, facing east. It is surrounded by towering boulders and ancient cypresses, covering an area of approximately 2,160 square meters. The tomb mound has a diameter of 4.5 meters and a height of about 2 meters, enclosed by an outer wall and a worship platform, with three steles erected during the Ming and Qing dynasties inscribed with “Tomb of Shang Recluse Yu Zhong, Duke of Zhou,” among others. The tomb path winds down the mountain for over 400 meters. Ascending from Beimen Street, there are three four-pillar, three-bay, towering stone archways built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing dynasty. In front of the third archway, there are two symmetrical stone pavilions and a memorial lawn. Zhongyong, also known as Yu Zhong, is historically said to be from Fengxiang, Shaanxi. He was the second son of King Tai of the Shang dynasty’s late period and the founding king of the Zhou dynasty. To yield the throne to his younger brother Ji Li and avoid conflict, he fled southward with his elder brother Taibo to the land of Jingman (present-day southern Jiangsu), where they jointly established the state of Gouwu, with Taibo as ruler. After Taibo’s death, Zhongyong succeeded him as ruler of Wu. Legend has it that he was buried on Yu Mountain. The original construction date of the tomb is unknown. Emperor Jianwen of the Liang dynasty wrote in the “Inscription on the Yu Mountain Zhaozhen Zhi Tablet” that “from afar one sees Zhongyong’s lofty tomb standing desolately.” The Tang dynasty’s “Wu Di Ji” records that “Zhongyong and Zhou Zhang are both buried on the eastern ridge of Yu Mountain.” During the Chenghua reign of the Ming dynasty, Zhou Mu, the 106th-generation descendant of Zhongyong and a provincial administrator from Zhejiang, restored the tomb by imperial decree. It has been repaired in subsequent dynasties. The tomb was designated as a provincial cultural relics protection unit on October 18, 1956.

Zhongyong, also known as Yu Zhong, was the second son of Gugong Danfu (later known as King Tai of Zhou), the leader of the Zhou clan during the late Shang dynasty. To yield the throne, he fled southward (to the present-day areas of Wuxi and Changshu) with his elder brother Taibo, “cut his hair and tattooed his body,” farmed with the people, and helped establish the state of Gouwu. As Taibo had no sons, Zhongyong succeeded him as ruler of Wu. After his death, he was buried on Wumu Mountain in Changshu, which was subsequently renamed Yu Mountain.

The entrance to the Tomb of Zhongyong is at the foot of the mountain, built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing dynasty, with the inscription “Imperially Commissioned Tomb Gate of the Sage Zhongyong.” Behind it lies the “Qingquan Ancestral Hall,” dedicated to Zhongyong. The second archway bears the horizontal plaque “Southern Courtesy and Respect,” with the back inscribed “United in Yielding the Throne.” The plaque above the next archway reads “Tomb of the Sage Yu Zhong,” with the reverse side inscribed “Virtue Radiating Equally with Light.” All were constructed during the Qianlong reign. Three tomb steles remain in the burial chamber, with the central one inscribed “Tomb of Shang Recluse Yu Zhong, Duke of Zhou,” dating from the Ming dynasty.

Zhongyong, the second ruler of the State of Wu, had the surname Ji and given name Yong. He was the second son of Gugong Danfu (later known as King Tai of Zhou), the leader of the Zhou clan during the late Shang dynasty, and is historically referred to as Zhongyong, as well as Yu Zhong, Wu Zhong, or Shu Zai. Gugong Danfu had three sons and doted on his youngest son, Ji Li, and Ji Li’s son Ji Chang (later known as King Wen of Zhou). He intended to pass the throne to Ji Li and then to Ji Chang. Zhongyong and his elder brother Taibo, understanding their father’s wishes, voluntarily yielded the throne and traveled from the Wei River region (now Qishan County, Shaanxi Province) to the present-day areas of Wuxi and Changshu. There, they cut their hair and tattooed their bodies, farming alongside the people, who supported Taibo as the ruler of Gouwu. After Taibo died without an heir, Zhongyong succeeded him. Following Zhongyong’s death, he was buried on Yu Mountain, and his son... More details about Zhongyong ++

Further Reading:

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