Tomb of Mei Wending

Tomb of Mei Wending

The Tomb of Mei Wending is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

The Tomb of Mei Wending is located on Dushan Mountain in Baijia Village, Fengshan Township, Xuancheng District.

The burial site is shaped like a lotus petal, and right in front of the tomb lies a pond called Lotus Pond, which is covered with lotus flowers. The grave mound is circular, standing 2.4 meters high with a diameter of 12.2 meters, oriented west to east. Elliptical protective embankments are built to the south, west, and north, each 0.6 meters high and 21.4 meters in circumference.

Mei Wending (1633–1721), courtesy name Dingjiu, also known as Wuan, was a native of Xuancheng County. He was a renowned astronomer and mathematician in the early Qing Dynasty, regarded as the “foremost authority in calendrical calculations” and the “founding figure” of the field in that era. Liang Qichao once remarked: “Among the most advanced sciences in our country, astronomy and mathematics are the most developed, flourishing especially during the Qing Dynasty. Most scholars who studied the classics were also well-versed in these fields, and the founding figure of this tradition was Mei Wending of Xuancheng.” In his early years, he studied the Book of Changes with his father and developed a keen interest in observing celestial phenomena. Starting at age 27, he began learning mathematics and calendrical science, dedicating his life to academic pursuits. The influx of Western scientific knowledge in the early Qing period had a profound impact on Mei Wending. Throughout his life, he extensively read… More details about Mei Wending ++