Tomb of Yao Ying

Tomb of Yao Ying

The Tomb of Yao Ying is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Tomb of Yao Ying is located at "Yao Family Cemetery Hill" in Xiaohékou, Shuangxi Village, deep within the Longmian Mountain area. It is a joint tomb for a couple. The cemetery covers an area of 108 square meters, with a mound height of 0.8 meters. It faces west and overlooks Yinshan Mountain. Along the steep mountainside in front of the tomb, three stone-paved worship platforms are built, each 1 meter high. Behind the mound is a circular stone wall enclosing the burial site, with a tombstone embedded in the center, standing 1 meter tall and 0.6 meters wide. Erected in the first year of the Tongzhi reign, the inscription in regular script reads: “The Tomb of Mr. Yao Shipu, the Late Qing Dynasty’s Imperially Appointed Grand Master of Ceremonies and Surveillance Commissioner of Guangxi.” It is a key cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

Yao Ying (1785–1853), courtesy name Shipu, art name Mingshu, also known as Zhǎn Hé in his later years, and alternatively as Xìng Wēng. A native of Tongcheng, he was a renowned patriotic thinker and a key writer of the Tongcheng School. He passed the imperial examination in the 13th year of the Jiaqing reign (1808) and successively served as magistrate of Pinghe, Longxi, Taiwan, and Wujin counties. During the outbreak of the Opium War, Yao Ying was serving as the Taiwan Intendant of Circuit Defense. Facing powerful enemies, he actively organized military preparations and successfully repelled five British invasions. This marked another major victory in the resistance against the British following Lin Zexu’s anti-opium campaign. After the signing of the Treaty of Nanjing, Yao Ying was falsely accused, exiled to Sichuan, and later demoted to Tibet. In the early years of the Xianfeng reign, he was appointed Surveillance Commissioner of Guangxi, then transferred to the same position in Hunan. He eventually died in military service. From a young age, Yao Ying inherited a strong scholarly foundation from his family and was immensely talented, recognized as one of the “Four Outstanding Figures of the Yao School.” His literary style was vigorous and direct, excelling in argumentative prose. Notable works include Complete Works of Zhongfutang, Records of the Eastern Journey, and Travels through Kangyou.

Source: Tongcheng Cultural Relics Bureau

Yao Ying (1785–1853), courtesy name Shipu, art name Mingshu, also known as Zhǎn Hé and Xìng Wēng. He was the grandnephew of Yao Nai and a Qing dynasty official and litterateur.

Yao Ying passed the imperial examination in the 13th year of the Jiaqing reign (1808). He served successively as magistrate of Pinghe, Longxi, Taiwan, Wujin, and Yuanhe counties. Later, recommended by Viceroy of Liangjiang Tao Shu and Governor of Jiangsu Lin Zexu, he was appointed Taiwan Intendant of Circuit Defense with the additional title of Surveillance Commissioner. Between the 20th and 22nd years of the Daoguang reign (1840–1842), Yao Ying, in cooperation with Taiwan General Dahong’a, led Taiwanese troops and civilians in repelling five British naval invasions. They destroyed three British warships and captured over 150 British soldiers... More details about Yao Ying++