Tomb of Chen Hongshou

Tomb of Chen Hongshou

The Tomb of Chen Hongshou is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The tomb of Chen Hongshou is located on Hengpeng Ridge in Guanshan'ao, Xieshu, in the suburbs of Shaoxing. The tomb is square-shaped, topped with yellow clay, and features a rectangular offering table in front. A horizontally placed gravestone bears an inscription in intaglio: “Erected in the eighth month of the 60th year of the Qianlong reign by descendant Yun Kun. Joint tomb of Ming Dynasty Hanlin academician Chen Zhanghou and his virtuous wives, Madam Lai (Xuanren) and Madam Han (Yiren). Restored in the spring season of the year Xin Chou during the Guangxu reign by descendant officials.”

Tomb of Chen Hongshou (Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protection Unit)

Period: Late Ming and Early Qing Dynasties

Date of designation: March 11, 1963

Located 300 meters southeast of Guanshan'ao Village, Jianhu Town. Chen Hongshou (1598–1652), courtesy name Zhanghou, art name Laolian, was a native of Zhuji and a renowned painter and calligrapher of the late Ming and early Qing periods. When Qing troops invaded eastern Zhejiang, he became a monk at Yunmen Temple in Shaoxing. He was skilled in poetry, calligraphy, and painting, and his collected works, Baoluntang Ji, were published. The tomb faces north and sits on a square mound measuring 3.4 meters on each side and 1.6 meters in height. It is enclosed by stone slabs and covered with yellow earth. At the front is a horizontally placed stone tablet erected in the eighth month of the 60th year of the Qianlong reign (1795) by descendant Yun Shen, inscribed with “Joint Tomb of Ming Dynasty Hanlin Academician Chen Zhanghou and His Virtuous Wives, Madam Lai (Yi Ren) and Madam Han (Yi Ren).” In front of the tomb is a rectangular offering table, beneath which lies a square worship platform. The site was restored in 1987.

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units