The Cheng Family Ancient Residence – Cheng Yi’s Tomb

The Cheng Family Ancient Residence – Cheng Yi’s Tomb

Cheng Yi’s Tomb is located at the western foot of Guishan Mountain in Aodi Village, Linjiang Town, Lucheng District, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, facing south. The tomb is built in a block-stone circular chair style, consisting of three tiers. A cobblestone-paved central pathway leads up to the front. The burial chamber is slightly arched, enclosed by inner and outer layers of block-stone rings. The three-tiered ceremonial platform has an overall figure-eight layout. On the facade of the first tier, there are two tombstones belonging to descendants of Cheng Yi, dating from the Qing Dynasty. The second tier features a central epitaph inscribed by Ren Daoxun, carved on bluestone, now damaged, and resting on a Sumeru pedestal base. Between the second and third tiers, there are two steps in the middle section, and between the third tier and the pathway, there are three steps. The stone rings are laid with slabs joined diagonally, while the ceremonial platforms are paved with square stones in offset courses. The spirit way gate of Cheng Yi’s Tomb is situated on the south side of Residential Building No. 46, Shengzhi Pavilion Road, Aodi Village, Linjiang Town. Originally located at the front spirit way of Cheng Yi’s Tomb, it was relocated to its current site after the Cultural Revolution. The spirit way gate is a two-pillar freestanding structure, single-bay, oriented north-south, made of granite. The crossbeam and pillars are connected using mortise-and-tenon joints. The crossbeam is approximately 2.5 meters long and 0.32 meters wide. Its southern facade bears a left-to-right incised seal script reading “有明程氏墓道” (“Spirit Way of the Cheng Family of the Ming Dynasty”). The two pillars are about 2.43 meters high and 0.27 meters wide, spaced approximately 2 meters apart. Their southern facades each feature incised text, now severely weathered and illegible. Some villagers have incorporated parts of the spirit way gate into their house walls (as window frames), severely compromising its original function.

Cheng Yi: Born in the Gengzi year (1420) of the Yongle era during the Ming Dynasty, he passed away on the 22nd day of the fifth month in the Gengxu year (1490) of the Hongzhi era. In the 16th year of the Chenghua era (1480), his act of righteousness and charity became a celebrated tale among the people of Xixi. After his death, many notable figures wrote biographies and eulogies in his honor, some of which have been passed down through generations. His tombstone is one such relic. In August 2005, Cheng Yi’s Tomb was designated as part of the fifth batch of Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Units by the Wenzhou Municipal People's Government.

Protection Level: Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit

Period: Qing Dynasty

Category: Ancient Tomb

Protected Area: To the northwest, bounded by a line 10 meters outward from the front step edge of the tomb; the other three sides are bounded by a line 5 meters outward from the tomb ring.

Construction Control Zone: To the northwest, bounded by a line 30 meters outward from the front step edge of the tomb; the other three sides are bounded by lines 20 meters outward from the tomb ring.