Former Residence and Tomb of Imperial Censor He

Former Residence and Tomb of Imperial Censor He

The Former Residence and Tomb of Imperial Censor He is a cultural tourism attraction.

He Weijin, courtesy name Zigong, style name Shuinan, was a native of Helou Village west of Mengcheng County. Born in the 18th year of the Chenghua reign during the Ming Emperor Xiaozong’s rule (1482), he passed the imperial examination under the Guichou year of Emperor Shizong’s reign and served as an official in the Duduchayuan (also referred to as Jingxian, commonly called Imperial Censor by locals). Later, he fell victim to the persecution by Yan Song’s faction and died unjustly in the 37th year of Emperor Shizong’s Jiajing reign (1558) at the age of 77. By the 44th year of Jiajing (1565), his name was cleared, and he was buried in front of Heqiao Village, Chenwafang Village, Guandi Township, in the southern part of the city.

Helou Village was He Weijin’s original residence. A multi-story building once stood there, from which the village got its name. Outside the village were sites such as the Shaozitang Pond and Fenghuangdan, while inside were the Front Flower Hall, Back Garden, Xiangchang (a threshing ground), and Jiaogan (the terrain of the village resembled a sedan chair). Although He Weijin’s building no longer exists due to the passage of time, some of its brick foundations were unearthed in 1958. Most were used to pave the Mengfu Highway, while others are scattered among local households.

He Weijin and Yan Song both served during the reign of Emperor Shizong. Witnessing how Yan and his son monopolized court power and committed atrocities, leading to national decline and suffering among the people, He claimed ill health and retired to his hometown. However, Yan’s followers plotted against him, forcing He Weijin to commit suicide by swallowing gold. His daughter, He Qifeng (also known as He Sangu), loyal and filial, appealed persistently on behalf of her wronged father. After eight years, her father’s name was finally cleared, allowing her to return home and bury him.

In the spring of the first year of the Longqing reign under Emperor Muzong, He Weijin’s funeral was held, with coffins carried out through all four city gates, and he was buried in the suburbs near the city. A memorial archway was also erected. Both his tombstone and stone archway were toppled in 1958, and his grave was leveled during the Cultural Revolution. Fragments of stone carvings—including the stele, archway, lions, table, and incense burner—were scattered across three natural villages: Heqiao, Helou, and Chenwafang.

In Helou Village, there is a pair of stone lions, one of which is preserved intact at the home of a local villager named He Jianmin. The remnants of the stone archway are gathered at the home of He Zemin in Heqiao Village. The horizontal plaque of the archway reads “Tomb of Imperial Censor Shuinan He from Jingxian,” with smaller vertical characters above reading “Spring of the First Year of Longqing in the Great Ming,” and signed at the end “by Friend Zhang Lailin.” In Chenwafang Village, there are two stone incense burners and a tombstone. According to Mr. Li Ruzhou’s recollection, the inscription roughly states: Shuinan He, originally from Baima Village, Cixi County, Ningbo Prefecture, Zhejiang Province. His great-grandfather served as the magistrate of Mengcheng County, after which the family moved to Mengcheng. His father died early, leaving the family poor, and he relied on his mother. His mother, who had received some schooling and was literate, was resolute and placed great importance on traditional female virtues. She was determined to raise her son alone and did so with wisdom. Making a living by grinding flour, she sent her son to study at the Jade Emperor Temple in the city, where the teacher, impressed by her righteousness, exempted tuition fees. Shuinan studied diligently, excelled academically, and ranked high in the Guichou imperial examination under Emperor Shizong’s reign, later becoming an official and eventually an Imperial Censor. Known for his integrity and love for the people, akin to a parent, he authored the book *Shuinan Palace*. He died at 77, the victim of false accusations. His daughter Qifeng went to the capital to appeal for justice, presenting the facts to the emperor, who, moved by her sincerity, cleared her father’s name.

In 1952, while digging mud from a pond, two elderly residents of Nan Dajie Neighborhood Committee in the former Chengguan Town—Ge Congde and Zhao Fangren—discovered two earthen wells east of Renmin Lane on West Street, behind the Xinhua Bathhouse (which, according to the elders, was the site of the He family garden). In the western well, a large wooden coffin was found, believed to be the actual tomb of He Weijin. Because He Weijin died unjustly and his name was cleared only eight years later, it would have been impossible to preserve the body for that long under the conditions at the time. Therefore, it was reasonable that he was promptly buried in his own back garden.

According to He Yanbo, a descendant of the He family, his ancestors had long guarded He Weijin’s urban residence. The residential area in front of the garden, east of Renmin Lane, was the He family house. The aforementioned wooden coffin was located in the He family’s back garden, and the former Martyrs’ Shrine in Dongguan, east of the city, was the “Loyalty and Filial Piety Shrine” built by the He family for He Sangu.

He Weijin (?–1558), style name Shuinan, was a native of Mengcheng. He lost his father in childhood. His mother, literate and strong-willed, remained committed to raising him despite their poverty. Under her guidance, He Weijin developed both virtue and talent from a young age.

In the 32nd year of the Jiajing reign (1553), He Weijin passed the imperial examination and was first appointed as magistrate of Putian, where he achieved notable results. He was then promoted to an official role in the Duduchayuan and, after an imperial audience, was conferred the title of Imperial Censor. Serving across three reigns, he was loyal and respected. On one occasion, a dispute over a wall arose between his family and a neighbor surnamed Li, which the authorities struggled to resolve. To win the lawsuit, his family wrote to him in the capital detailing the issue. He Weijin immediately... More details about He Weijin ++