Tomb of Ye Xuecheng

Tomb of Ye Xuecheng

The Tomb of Ye Xuecheng is a cultural relic protection unit of Wenzhou City.

The Tomb of Ye Xuecheng is located at the eastern foot of Yangfu Mountain in Liming Subdistrict, Lucheng District. It faces south and features a three-tiered chair-like structure built with granite blocks, covering an area of approximately 100 square meters. The upper tier is 3.5 meters wide and 2.3 meters deep, serving as the joint burial site of Ye Xuecheng and his wife. The middle tier is 3.5 meters wide and 2.5 meters deep, divided into three chambers by square granite pillars. The lower tier is 6 meters wide and 2 meters deep, with a rammed earth floor, functioning as the worship platform. The tomb enclosure is semicircular, with a bluestone stele embedded in the center of the rear ridge, inscribed with: “Residing at No. 272, Shangbu Street, Puzhou. 22nd generation. The tomb of Ye Xuecheng, courtesy name Lisheng, a fourth-rank Tongzhi (county magistrate) of Puzhou, his primary spouse Madam Fan, secondary spouse Madam Pan, and concubine Madam Zhang.”

Ye Xuecheng, also known as Pinjin, was a native of Shangpuzhou Village in present-day Liming Subdistrict, Lucheng District. Born in the seventh year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty (1827), he was a prominent local gentry. During the Second Opium War, he donated funds to organize militias, set up martial arts training grounds, built boats, and acquired firearms, leading the people of Puzhou in resisting British pirate merchants who raided coastal villages in Wenzhou. In December of the sixth year of the Xianfeng reign (1856), the British captured four enemies and executed them all. The Battle of Puzhou had a significant impact. For this, the Qing court conferred upon him the title of fourth-rank Tongzhi. He passed away in the 20th year of the Guangxu reign (1894) and was buried at the western foot of Yangfu Mountain. In 1976, due to the construction of Liming Middle School, his tomb was relocated to its current site. It was renovated in 2006. In 1997, it was listed as part of the second batch of cultural relic protection units in Longwan District. In 2001, following an administrative division adjustment, it was placed under the jurisdiction of Lucheng District.

Protection Level: County (City/District)-level Cultural Relic Protection Unit

Period: Qing Dynasty

Category: Ancient Tomb

Protected Area: Bounded by a 10-meter extension outward from the tomb enclosure on the east, west, and north sides; and a 20-meter extension outward from the tomb on the south side.

Construction Control Zone: Bounded by a 30-meter extension outward from the tomb base on the east, west, and north sides; and a 40-meter extension outward from the tomb on the south side.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relic Protection Units in Wenzhou City