Tomb of Ji Zigeng

Tomb of Ji Zigeng

The Tomb of Ji Zigeng is a cultural relic protection unit of Xiangshan County.

The Tomb of Ji Zigeng is located at the entrance of Ruxi Natural Village, Shipu Town, Xiangshan County. The tomb is about 100 meters southwest of the Shipu East Bus Station. It faces southeast and is built in a "landed dragon head" style. It is the joint burial site of Mr. Ji Zigeng and his parents. In front of the tomb gate is a barrier stele inscribed with the four characters “道泽孔长” (translated as “The Tao’s Grace Flows Far and Wide”), flanked by a pair of stone elephants and square four-pillars. The octagonal front pillars feature double lions, and the inlaid panels depict carvings such as pine trees and deer, the God of Longevity, plum blossoms and cranes, and Magu with a peach of immortality. The carvings are exquisitely crafted. On the inner side of the central spine of the dragon-shaped tomb mound is an embedded bluestone stele engraved with four characters in Yan-style calligraphy: “流芳百世” (translated as “Leave a Lasting Legacy”). On the left side of the tomb’s offering platform is a wall bearing a genuine epitaph “composed and inscribed by Ma Xulun, Professor at National Peking University.” This was added later. In front of the tomb stands a replica of the stele inscribed with “Tomb of Mr. Ji Zigeng,” written by Cai Yuanpei and erected in January 1987 by the People’s Government of Xiangshan County, following the original design. On October 30, 2007, it was designated as a Cultural Relic Protection Unit of Xiangshan County under the sixth batch of listings.

Mr. Ji Zigeng (1865–1933), also known as Chuanzhang, was a native of Yanchang, Shipu Town, with ancestral roots in Tong’an, Fujian. He was a great philanthropist. He repeatedly came to the aid of the weak and poor, donated to build (or renovate) lighthouses, bridges, docks, schools, and roads, benefiting areas such as the Fujian coast and Yuhuan. He also supported Zhang Baoling from Yin County in establishing the seedless orange orchard in Yanchang. In the winter of 1926, he helped Cai Yuanpei and Ma Xulun, who had taken refuge in Xiangshan, relocate to Fujian. Mr. Ji’s acts of righteousness were too numerous to list.