Shi Lang Memorial Hall

Shi Lang Memorial Hall

In Yage Village by the Shenhu Bay in Jinjiang City, originally called Xunhai, the area became commonly known as Yage due to the renowned将军府 (General’s Mansion) built by Shi Lang, the Qing Dynasty’s Marquis of Pacifying the Sea, in his hometown.

Shi Lang (1621–1696), courtesy name Zunhou and style name Zhuogong, was a native of Yage in Jinjiang. He was of striking appearance, possessed extraordinary bravery and strength, excelled in military leadership, and was well-versed in maritime affairs, making him a highly strategic commander. After Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) passed away in Taiwan, Shi Lang strongly advocated for the recovery of the island at the Qing court, vehemently criticized the arguments for abandoning Taiwan, led troops across the sea to conquer Taiwan, and successfully reclaimed the territory. For his contribution to the unification of the motherland, he was posthumously granted the title “Marquis of Pacifying the Sea.”

In the 35th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1696), Shi Lang passed away while in office. To honor his achievements, the Qing court ordered the construction of a memorial temple in his hometown, which has been repaired by later generations and remains relatively well-preserved to this day.

The ancestral hall is a three-courtyard structure made of brick and wood, featuring black pillars and red eaves, giving it a solemn yet graceful appearance. The front, middle, and rear halls are aligned along a central axis, presenting a neat and respectful layout. The two sides are connected by corridors, forming an enclosed architectural complex. The front hall serves as the mountain gate, with a flush gable roof, five bays wide, and a large central door flanked by two stone lions. Amidst its solemnity, there is also a sense of grandeur, and the gate prominently displays a plaque inscribed with “Shi Family Ancestral Hall.” The middle hall, also known as “Shude Hall,” has five bays and a flush gable roof. The hall is spacious and bright, and was formerly used as a place for clan meetings. In front of the hall, there is a horizontal inscribed board reading “The World’s Number One Clean Official,” erected in honor of Shi Shilun, who served as the Prefect of Yangzhou during the Qing Dynasty.

Shi Lang’s Tomb is located on the Huku Slope at the border between Huangtang Town in Hui’an County and Heshi Town in Luojiang District. It is the joint burial site of Shi Lang, his wife Lady Wang, and Lady Huang. After his death, Shi Lang was posthumously awarded the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. The tombstone is inscribed with “The Imperial Qing Dynasty’s Court of Imperial Entertainments, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, Marquis of Pacifying the Sea, and Distinguished General Shi’s Granted Tomb,” with the side inscriptions reading “Lady Wang, First-Rank Noble Consort” and “Lady Huang, First-Rank Noble Consort.” The tomb is built of stone, with its wing sections expanding outward layer by layer, consisting of three burial chambers. The tomb faces south and covers an area of 68,500 square meters. From north to south, the tomb area is divided into five terraces, on which stand four stone figures of civil and military officials, one pair each of horses, tigers, sheep, lions, and ornamental columns, as well as a stele pavilion from the 37th year of the Kangxi reign (1698), an imperial-granted tomb archway, and a turtle-based stele pavilion.

Today, countless people who admire the general and long for the reunification of the motherland visit the General’s former residence and memorial temple in Yage, as well as his tomb in Hui’an, to pay their respects.

Yage Village: Located in the eastern part of Longhu Town in Jinjiang City, Yage Village was established in the latter part of the Northern Song Dynasty and originally belonged to Xiangge Li in Jinjiang County. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was under the jurisdiction of the 17th and 18th districts, and the Ming and Qing Dynasties continued the old system. Originally named “Nanxun,” it was not until the early Qing Dynasty that it was renamed “Yage.” The ancestors of Yage came from Guangzhou in Henan Province, with the Shi surname making up the vast majority of the population, along with a small minority of the Nian surname, among others. For hundreds of years, the Han and Manchu peoples have lived together harmoniously, integrating into one community and jointly building their homeland.

[Administrative Jurisdiction] Yage Village and Nanxun Village are located in the southeastern part of Longhu Town, with a population of over ten thousand and an area of nearly ten square kilometers. The main north-south street runs through… Yage Village detailed information++