Cai Xiang Mausoleum

Cai Xiang Mausoleum

The Cai Xiang Mausoleum is a cultural relic protection unit of Fujian Province.

Cai Xiang’s tomb is located in Jinling Natural Village, Putou Community, Fengting Town, Xianyou County. Cai Xiang (1012–1067), courtesy name Junmo, was a native of Xianyou, Fujian. He passed the imperial examination in 1030 during the Tian Sheng era of the Song Dynasty. While serving as Prefect of Quanzhou, he oversaw the construction of the Luoyang Bridge, which played a significant role in connecting north-south transportation in Fujian. He was skilled in calligraphy and was one of the Four Great Calligraphers of the Song Dynasty, with ink works and stone inscriptions handed down through generations. He produced a wealth of writings during his life, later compiled by posterity into the Complete Works of Cai Xiang. The Treatise on Lychees, completed in 1059 (the fourth year of the Jiayou era), is the earliest surviving monograph on lychees in China. He passed away at home in 1067 (the fourth year of the Zhiping era). The tomb site was first built in the Northern Song Dynasty and reconstructed in 1465 (the first year of the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty), when provincial governor Teng Zhao renovated the tomb, built a shrine, and erected a stele. In 1506 (the first year of the Zhengde era), education intendant Yang Ziqi undertook further repairs. In 1984, the People’s Government of Fujian Province allocated funds to restore the site to its original appearance, surrounding it with brick walls for protection. In 1998, overseas clan relatives raised funds for another renovation and added stele pavilions, stele corridors, and a ceremonial gate on both sides of the tomb. The tomb faces northwest and is situated southeast, measuring 62 meters in width and 90.1 meters in depth, covering an area of 5,586.2 square meters. Its layout resembles the shape of a “wind” character. The stone structure consists of four terraced platforms. The tomb mound is turtle-back shaped, and the main body features a square gravestone, 1.4 meters long and 0.75 meters wide, with a stone altar placed in front. In front of the tomb stands a pair of stone pillars erected in 1782 (the 47th year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty) by Cai Xin, Minister of Personnel and Academician of the Wenhua Hall. This mausoleum serves as a physical resource for studying the life of Cai Xiang. Cai Xiang’s tomb was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Fujian Province in 1961.

Cai Xiang (1012–1067), courtesy name Junmo, was a native of Dongzhai Village, Fengting Town, Xianyou County, and was born in 1012 (the fifth year of the Dazhong Xiangfu era of the Song Dynasty). His father, Xiu, lived in Fengting Post of Xianyou County, initially working as a farmer and later as a minor official in Quanzhou. His mother, Lady Lu, was the daughter of Lu Ren, a renowned scholar from Guifeng Village, Deyinli (now Houlong Township), Hui’an County.

Cai Xiang received strict education from his maternal grandfather in his childhood. At age 15, he took the local examination, and at 18, he traveled to the capital to study at the Imperial Academy. In 1030 (the eighth year of the Tian Sheng era), he ranked first in the Kaifeng provincial examination. In 1031 (the ninth year of the Tian Sheng era), he placed tenth in the imperial examination and was appointed in the following year as a military judge in Zhangzhou… More detailed information about Cai Xiang++

Putou Community: Overview of Putou Community

[Administrative Affiliation and Transportation Location] Putou Community is located along Beifeng River Road in the town center of Fengting Town, Fengting. It borders Huiguang Village to the east around Tadou Mountain, connects to Jianguo Village to the west, faces Jiushe Village across the creek to the south, and is adjacent to Xiastreet to the north, extending to the boundary marker between Lingfeng Suburb and Lingshan via Baishé Guolu.

[Villages and Residents] The community spans 2 kilometers from east to west and 3 kilometers from north to south, covering a total area of 6 square kilometers. It has 746 mu of arable land, including 136 mu of paddy fields; 300 mu of mountainous land and 200 mu of orchards. It includes the villages of Putou, Xiadun, Shangkou, Jinling, Guanqiao, Guoshan, … More detailed information about Putou Community++