Ancestral Temple of Lord Zong Zhongjian

Ancestral Temple of Lord Zong Zhongjian

The Ancestral Temple of Lord Zong Zhongjian is a cultural tourism attraction and a patriotic education base.

The “Ancestral Temple of Lord Zong Zhongjian” is located in Zongtang Village, Jiangdong Subdistrict, covering an area of about 700 square meters. It has a history of 430 years to date and was built to commemorate Zong Ze, a hero who resisted the Jin invaders during the Song Dynasty. It was originally constructed within Manshin Temple. During the Zhengde era, the temple was repurposed for student studies but later fell into disuse over time and eventually became ruins. In the eleventh year of the Longqing era, Zheng Yixin from Hui’an, Fujian, came to Zhejiang to take up his official duties. Together with Xie Tingjie from Xinjian, Jiangxi, they rebuilt the ancestral hall in the eighth year of the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty. The current structure consists of a main hall with three bays, a reception hall with three bays, and a five-bay entrance. Due to years of neglect, the temple suffered significant damage. In early 2011, Zongtang Village raised funds to renovate the temple, and the restoration was fully completed by the end of 2012. Currently, the ancestral hall serves as a municipal patriotic education base.

1. The Ancestral Temple of Lord Zong Zhongjian boasts a long history, dating back 430 years to date.

2. Zong Ze fought bravely against the enemy, demonstrated remarkable wisdom, and valiantly resisted the invaders alone. He once rode alone to persuade rebel leaders Wang Shan and Yang Jin to surrender. His forces grew continuously, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers, loyal troops from the Two Rivers region, and militias from the eastern and western regions of the capital gathering from all directions under his command, achieving twenty-four major victories.

3. Zong Ze once recognized Yue Fei’s talent, enabling Yue to achieve numerous military successes and eventually become a faithful successor to Zong Ze’s anti-Jin resistance strategy.

4. Zong Ze was deeply patriotic and repeatedly petitioned Emperor Gaozong of Song to return to the capital and reclaim lost territories. However, his ambitions were not fulfilled. He was deeply concerned about the nation’s safety and felt great indignation, eventually falling ill and passing away.

Zong Ze, courtesy name Rulin, was a Song Dynasty hero who resisted the Jin invaders. He was born on December 14 of the fourth year of the Jiayou era during the Northern Song’s Renzong reign (January 2, 1060 AD) in Shipantang, Yiwu. In the sixth year of Yuanyou (1091), he passed the imperial examination and held various local government positions, where he was known for his benevolent governance. In the first year of Xuanhe during Emperor Huizong’s reign (1119), while serving as prefect of Dengzhou, he was demoted and exiled to Zhenjiang due to accusations of “insufficient reverence in constructing the Shenxiao Palace” by Taoist Lin Lingsu and others. At that time, he was sixty-one years old.

In the fourth year of Xuanhe, he was pardoned and assigned to oversee wine taxes in Zhenjiang Prefecture. Soon after, the Jin army invaded from the south. In September 1126, Zong Ze was ordered to govern Cizhou (present-day Ci County, Hebei). After repeatedly defeating the Jin army beneath the city walls, Prince Kang Zhao Gou, who was on a mission to the Jin camp at Cizhou, was persuaded by Zong Ze and the local citizens to stay. In November, when the capital was in crisis, Emperor Qinzong appointed Prince Kang as the Grand Marshal and Zong Ze as the Deputy Grand Marshal. Zong Ze led troops to support the capital. The following year, he arrived in Henan and continued advancing southward, achieving twelve major victories. In April, the Jin forces captured Emperors Huizong and Qinzong and took them north. Zong Ze intended to lead his troops across the river to intercept the Jin retreat and rescue the two emperors, but no reinforcements arrived. Zong Ze alone resisted the powerful invaders, determined to protect the Song Dynasty. He personally persuaded local militias such as those led by Wang Shan and Yang Jin, gradually amassing an army of hundreds of thousands under his command. Loyal troops from the Two Rivers region and militias from the eastern and western regions of the capital gathered from all directions, all heeding his leadership. His forces grew stronger, achieving twenty-four major victories. During his tenure as defender, Zong Ze recognized Yue Fei’s talent. Yue achieved repeated military successes and later became a faithful successor to Zong Ze’s anti-Jin strategy. Zong Ze, who had repeatedly petitioned Emperor Gaozong to return to the capital and reclaim lost territories but saw his ambitions unfulfilled, was deeply distressed over the nation’s fate and died of anger and illness. He developed a carbuncle on his back and passed away in office on the twelfth day of the seventh month at the age of seventy.