Tomb of Cheng Duanzhong

Tomb of Cheng Duanzhong

The Tomb of Cheng Duanzhong is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Tomb of Cheng Duanzhong is located in Lianhua Group, Shengli Village, Changling Township, Jinzhai County. It is the burial site of Cheng Duanzhong, a Song Dynasty hero who resisted the Jin invasion and served as the military governor of Lu’an, commonly known as the “Tomb of the Master.”

The tomb complex currently covers a total area of about 40,000 square meters, consisting of a memorial park and a temple area, all enclosed by walls. The tomb faces northeast and is backed by Lotus Mountain, overlooking an open landscape. The tomb consists of two mounds; the one closer to the mountain is the original mound, which is 2 meters high, with a 80 cm tall stele. About 1 bao (a traditional unit of distance) directly in front of the original mound lies an oval-shaped secondary mound, 6 meters long, 2 bao high, with a 2 bao tall stele that is 4 meters wide, rebuilt in the sixth year of the Tongzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty. In front of the stele, there was originally a stone incense burner weighing over a ton, flanked by stone figures, stone horses, stone lions, and horse tethering posts. Currently, two horse tethering posts remain, along with three newly placed stone incense burners aligned in a row. To the south of the northern temple and shrine area lies the Loyalty Shrine, while to the north lies the Left Sage Temple, each with three rooms under a single ridge. Behind the shrine and temple are the original structures, with a wall on the southern side. Outside the front garden lies a horse watering pool.

Cheng Duanzhong was a famous general of the Song Dynasty who resisted the Jin invasion, posthumously honored with the title “Loyal and Heroic.” He was the eldest son of Cheng Yi, founder of the Zhu–Xi school of Neo-Confucianism, as well as an educator and philosopher, and he served as the military governor of Lu’an. To protect the emperor and repel the invading Jin troops, Cheng donned the dragon robe and crown of the emperor, held the imperial seal, and covered the emperor’s escape, engaging in battle against tens of thousands of Jin soldiers. Ultimately, outnumbered, he was beheaded by the Jin army. The Song emperor, moved by his loyalty, posthumously appointed him Minister of War, conferred upon him the honorary title “Loyal and Heroic,” and ordered the construction of the Loyalty Shrine and the Left Sage Temple. Folklore says the imperial court once granted a golden head to be buried with his real body, and to prevent tomb robbery, 100 coffins were buried alongside.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units