Tomb of Meng Biao

Tomb of Meng Biao

The Tomb of Meng Biao is a cultural tourism attraction.

Meng Biao, courtesy name Wuda, was a native of Sheqiu in Jibei during China’s Northern and Southern Dynasties period. Initially serving as the Prefect of Matou (present-day northwest Shou County, Anhui) under Emperor Ming of the Southern Qi, he later surrendered to the Northern Wei and was appointed Governor of Nan’an Zhou (present-day Yanzhou, Shandong), granted the title of Marquis of Qiao County (present-day Bozhou), and tasked with defending Woyang.

Woyang is today’s Mengcheng. In the second year of Huangxing of the Northern Wei (468 AD), the Wei army advanced southward in force. They seized four prefectures north of the Huai River from the Southern Qi, establishing Woyang County within the newly created Wozhou, with its administrative center initially set in the former Shansang County seat. It was later relocated to the former site of Qiyuan north of the Wohé Sluice in Mengcheng.

At that time, Woyang was located on the border between the Northern Wei and the Southern Qi, making it a strategic military stronghold contested by both sides.

In the first year of Yongtai during the Southern Qi (498 AD), the Qi sent Pei Shuye, the Inspector of Yuzhou (present-day Runan County, Henan), with an elite force of 50,000 troops to seize Woyang. The battle was extremely fierce—the Qi forces laid heavy siege to the city with overwhelming numbers, while the Wei troops held the city against all odds. The Qi piled the corpses of Wei soldiers outside the walls, and the city ran out of food. Meng Biao led the defenders in eating dry grass, roots, and tree bark, tenaciously holding out for over two months before relief finally broke the siege.

For his meritorious service in defending Woyang, Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei conferred upon Meng Biao the title of Marquis of Wenyang (present-day north of Sishui County, Shandong) and appointed him General Who Pacifies the West.

Meng Biao eventually passed away while in office in Qizhou (present-day Jinan, Shandong) and was posthumously honored with the title “Gong” (meaning “Respectful”).

Meng Biao admired Jiang Taigong and Zhuangzi, who had once lived in seclusion and fished by the Qian River. He also held a special affection for Woyang, where he had achieved great deeds. After his death, in accordance with his wishes, he was buried by the banks of the Qian River.

The 1915 Revised Gazetteer of Mengcheng County records the deeds of Meng Biao, this “noted official,” stating that “the tomb of Meng Biao from the Northern and Southern Dynasties is located south of the Qian River in the county.”

After the liberation, the People’s Government of Mengcheng County designated the Tomb of Meng Biao as a key cultural relic protection unit at the county level.

Meng Biao (435–515), courtesy name Wuda, was a native of Sheqiu in Jibei. He claimed descent from the northern region known as Suoli, part of the Meng lineage. After the Qing and Xu territories came under central control, Meng Biao crossed south due to certain circumstances and served under Xiao Luan as Prefect of Matou.

In the eighteenth year of Taihe, Meng Biao surrendered the commandery and pledged allegiance. He was appointed General Who Upholds the State, Governor of Nan’an Zhou, concurrently serving as Prefect of Matou, and was granted the title of Marquis of Qiao County, tasked with defending Woyang. Later, Xiao Luan sent Pei Shuye, Inspector of Yuzhou, to besiege the city for over sixty days. With food supplies exhausted inside the city, the defenders had no choice but to sustain themselves with rotten leather and tree bark. Meng Biao comforted and encouraged his troops, and they fought together to hold firm. Eventually, the Southern Expedition General Wang Su lifted the siege of Yiyang and came to their rescue, prompting Pei Shuye to withdraw.

Initially, there was a man from the south... More detailed information about Meng Biao ++