Tomb of Luo Shi

Tomb of Luo Shi

The Tomb of Luo Shi is located at the foot of Majia Mountain to the east of the county town. Built in the first year of the Chongning era of the Song Dynasty (1102), it was renovated during the Qing Dynasty but destroyed in the 1950s. It has now been rebuilt with funds raised by descendants of the Luo family from Sanmen, Ninghai, Huangyan, and other counties (cities). The tomb is round in shape, with the original stele inscribed “Tomb of Mr. Luo Zhengzhi of the Song Dynasty” standing in front of it, and the elegiac couplet reading “Founding Scholar of Goucheng, Distinguished Minister of the Song Dynasty.” The site is surrounded by railings made of bluestone. It covers an area of approximately 250 square meters.

Epitaph of Luo Shi

Unearthed in the ninth year of the Tongzhi era (1870) at Majia Mountain in Haiyou, the epitaph is now housed in the county cultural relics museum. The stone stele stands 1.22 meters high and 1.36 meters wide, containing 49 vertical lines with 52 characters per line, totaling over 2,100 characters. Made of sturdy bluestone, the stele features the inscription “Epitaph of the Late Court Gentleman and Senior Protector-General Luo of Ninghai” on the top. The calligraphy is elegant and the strokes vigorous. It was composed by Mao ?, written by Lou Chang, and sealed with seal script by Tang Jingshen.

A Noted Statesman and Hydraulic Engineer of the Northern Song — Luo Shi

Luo Shi (1029–1101), courtesy name Zhengzhi, style name Chicheng, was a native of Majia Mountain in Haiyou. He held various official posts including county magistrate of Tongcheng County, magistrates of Sishui, Jiyin, Chenliu, Jiangdu, and Kaifeng counties, as well as roles such as Supervisor of Criminal Justice for the Two Zhejiangs Region and Supervisor of Criminal Justice for the Northwest Road of the Capital.

As an upright official who cared deeply about the sufferings of the people, when serving as magistrate of Tongcheng County in Anhui, he faced a severe outbreak of epidemic disease. He raised funds, invited renowned physicians to compile effective prescriptions, established a pharmacy, and saved the lives of over ten thousand people. The local people were deeply grateful, saying: “Who saved our lives? Our parent-like Magistrate Luo!”